Bolton boosted their hopes of Premiership survival, claiming their first win
since December 1 against Sheffield Wednesday.
Alan Thompson's 69th-minute penalty edged Bolton 3-2 ahead and Colin Todd's
men survived a late Wednesday rally to take three precious points.
Bolton had suffered a 5-0 drubbing at Hillsborough in November so this was
sweet revenge.
It was a particularly satisfying game for Danish midfielder Frandsen who was
involved in everything the home side did to ensure victory and a standing
ovation from a 25,000 crowd.
Bolton started the game brightly and could have been a goal up in the first
minute.
But Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman was first to Thompson's excellent cross to
punch the ball off the head of Dean Holdsworth.
In the eighth minute Wednesday made their first threat on goal but Benito
Carbone headed straight at Keith Branagan after Dejan Stefanovic had carved out
the opening.
Branagan was again the hero when he denied Paulo Di Canio with a last ditch
save at the feet of the Italian after Andy Booth had taken advantage of an Andy
Todd error inside the area.
But, in the 27th minute, Branagan could do nothing about Wednesday's opener.
Earl Barrett crossed from far post and Mark Fish deflected the ball into the
path of Booth who hit home his seventh goal of the season.
It took Bolton just four minutes to hit back. Former Wednesday man John
Sheridan found Frandsen on the edge of the area and he curled his third goal of
the season perfectly around Pressman.
Neil Cox could have hit a second three minutes from the break but Pressman
blocked brilliantly at his near post.
Eight minutes after the break Bolton deservedly took a 2-1 lead. Frandsen's
shot from the edge of the area deflected wide but, from Thompson's corner, Blake
jumped highest to nod his 12th of the season past Pressman.
Six minutes later Wednesday stormed back into the game when Di Canio took
advantage of a Cox slip to find Mark Pembridge on the edge of the area.
The Welsh international's cross was missed by Booth in the centre but captain
Peter Atherton was on hand to lob the ball back over Branagan for his second
goal in successive matches.
Bolton regained the lead when Holdsworth attempted to lob the ball over Jon
Newsome in the area and the Wednesday defender raised an arm to push the ball
away from danger. Referee Graham Poll had no hesitation in pointing to the spot
and Thompson sent Pressman the wrong way and Bolton were within sight of
victory.
Carbone almost grabbed an equaliser eight minutes from time. He unleashed a
well struck shot from the edge of the area but it did not dip in time to beat
Branagan.
Just two minutes later a long ball from Pressman found Booth 20 yards out and
the former Huddersfield man brushed aside the attention of Fish and Todd only to
blaze over.
Teams:
Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Fish, Thompson, Phillips, Bergsson,
Sheridan, Todd, Frandsen, Blake, Holdsworth.
Subs Not Used: Ward, Johansen, Fairclough, Gunnlaugsson,
Aljofree.
Booked: Blake, Holdsworth.
Goals: Frandsen 31, Blake 53, Thompson 69 pen.
Sheff Wed: Pressman, Atherton, Pembridge (Rudi 74),
Newsome (Sedloski 72), Walker, Carbone, Booth, Di Canio,
Stefanovic, Hinchcliffe, Barrett.
Subs Not Used: Clarke, Whittingham, Magilton.
Booked: Stefanovic.
Goals: Booth 26, Atherton 59.
Att: 24,847
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
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