Wednesday had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw with play-off chasing Bolton at Hillsborough this evening.
The 29,000-plus crowd saw us make an attacking start to the game, taking an early lead and threatening more goals in the first 20 minutes. However, Bolton came back strongly, levelling before the break and looking the more likely side to score again in the second half.
With promotion rivals Plymouth and Ipswich playing tomorrow, we are now four points ahead of the Pilgrims and a further two points clear of the Tractor Boys, also with a game in hand on both of them.
Bolton were first to go close tonight with Victor Adeboyejo seeing his second-minute effort deflected over after being set up by former Wednesday favourite Kieran Lee.
We were soon in the attacking groove at the other end with keeper James Trafford saving from Lee Gregory and then Josh Windass twice going close.
And Wednesday were rewarded with a goal on 12 minutes, Aden Flint heading a Reece James cross back across goal from beyond the far post and Gregory pouncing to hammer the ball into the roof of the net, via a deflection off a Bolton defender.
Flint’s header into the ground from a Barry Bannan corner was then gathered under the crossbar by Trafford as the Owls continued to press forward but Bolton gradually found their feet and started to pose attacking threats of their own, equalising nine minutes before the break.
Gethin Jones broke down the right-hand side before sending in a low cross which was turned home by the unmarked Adeboyejo from 12 yards, the ball deflecting off Flint and going through Cameron Dawson’s legs on its way into the net.
After a low-key start to the second half, Flint sent a header wide midway through the second half but it was the visitors who posed more threats and they had strong appeals for a penalty turned down when Dion Charles went down in the box under a challenge by Flint.
Cameron Jerome then went close for Bolton with 12 minutes left before Liam Palmer sent our best opening of the second half over the bar from 15 yards and the points were shared as Wednesday took our unbeaten league run to 23 games.
Dawson, Hunt, Palmer, Flint, Famewo, James (Johnson 46), Vaulks, Bannan, Dele-Bashiru, Windass (Smith 60), Gregory (Adeniran 78). Subs: Stockdale, Brown, Alimi-Adetoro, Bakinson. Attendance: 29,230.