ZACH Clough ended a 51-year wait for a Wanderers home win against Coventry City but not before a 19th Nervous Breakdown.

The Rolling Stones were at number one when Bill Ridding’s Whites put four past the Sky Blues at Burnden Park – but this slender victory was by no means as comfortable.

Phil Parkinson’s side dominated for long spells but could not find the crucial second goal to put the game beyond the visitors’ reach once Clough had put them ahead on 11 minutes.

But for Coventry keeper Lee Burge performing heroics with a string of stunning saves Wanderers would have been out of sight.

In the end, however, Ben Alnwick was called upon one too many times for his manager’s liking before his side got the Satisfaction of the final whistle.

Parkinson did not need to tinker much with his side after a convincing win against Millwall at the weekend. The one change he did make, Tom Thorpe for the suspended Liam Trotter, was widely expected.

Confidence was coursing through the Whites from the first whistle and they should have gone ahead after just five minutes. Clough fed Josh Vela, who dashed to the byline before pulling a fine ball into the six-yard box. Former Sky Blues loanee Gary Madine nudged the ball towards goal but was denied by a brilliant reaction save by Burge.

Both sets of supporters joined in applause in the sixth minute to remember the late Gary Speed and a few moments later, Clough produced a finish worthy of the great Welshman.

Madine won Alnwick’s long clearance and Jordan Willis miss-read the flick leaving Clough to zero in and lob a shot over keeper Burge which kissed the inside of the post on its way into the net.

It was the young striker’s sixth goal in eight games and by the end of the half he should have claimed another.

With 10 minutes to go in the half Lawrie Wilson got down the right and dug out a deep cross which was kept alive well by opposite full-back Andy Taylor. Madine hit fresh air but Clough had plenty of goal to aim at, instead hitting a relieved keeper in his stomach.

After going a goal down, Coventry had made a decent fist of getting back into the game.

Lively winger Kyel Reid had one fierce shot parried by Alnwick and Wanderers were forced to defend their penalty area with some urgency.

But there was a quiet confidence about Bolton and they stuck steadfast to the defensive shape which has made them League One’s meanest defence.

At 1-0 there was always the chance Coventry could edge their way back into the game and for some unknown reason the Whites started to gamble in possession around their own penalty box at the start of the second half, forcing Alnwick into some panicky clearances.

Lewis Page also tested the Wanderers keeper with a bouncing effort from the edge of the box.

Before any serious concern could manifest itself at the Macron, however, Jay Spearing wrestled hold of midfield once more and put his side back on the front foot.

Burge was called upon to make a great one-handed save from Sammy Ameobi and moments later, Spearing was felled on the edge of the box to present a perfect showcase for a Clough set piece.

Up stepped the youngster with a fine curling effort which bounced off the foot of the post with Burge beaten completely.

Had a second goal gone in at that stage the game would have been won – but instead, Wanderers started to rely on keeper Alnwick to preserve their advantage.

The former Peterborough United stopper pushed sub Jodi Jones’s effort round the post and then produced a magnificent stop from another replacement, Ruben Lameiras.

There was nothing he could have done with 10 minutes left when Jordan Turnbull planted a free header in on goal. Thankfully, Spearing was back on the line, though it could be argued that the midfielder knew little about the clearance he made.

From having been so dominant, Wanderers were starting to lose their poise, and the nerves spread to the stands.

Parkinson withdrew Clough and Ameobi for fresh legs in James Henry and Chris Taylor but they merely provided another two bodies to protect the penalty area.

Ben Stevenson had a shot turned round the post and hearts were in mouths as Reid popped up unmarked on the edge of the box – his shot mercifully sent high into the Coventry fans.

Henry could have settled it after being teed up by Chris Taylor but in the end Wanderers resorted to keep ball in the corners to see the game out professionally and hold on to a hard-fought three points.