WANDERERS ended their long wait for a goal and a Championship victory by edging a thriller against Sheffield Wednesday at the Macron.

Sammy Ameobi ended a near 13-hour wait for a goal in all competitions before Sam Hutchinson put through his own net on 61 minutes.

Both sides missed gilt-edged opportunities but only one more goal was added, as Keiran Lee scrambled home from close range to give Wednesday some hope.

But Wanderers held on their first league win in 12 attempts, much to the relief of manager Phil Parkinson.

“It was a great game, there were a lot of chances and we looked like a team who would score,” he said.

“It was one hell of an all-out effort. We keep saying to the lads they have to be prepared to run the hard yards and we did that today.

“Right from the keeper – who pulled off one hell of a save with his foot – there were big moments, a save, a goal, a set piece delivery going where it should.

“It makes the big difference and it fell on our side today.

“We all needed the lift of the win. We got beat at Villa and we’d played well against an excellent side but we needed the result.

“We had that bit more attacking threat and marry that with the spirit and belief we showed at Villa. I think we got that with Josh Vela being in the side.”

Ameobi wasted little time establishing a lead on his first home start since signing from Newcastle United in the summer.

Cutting in from the left, he curled a superb shot inside Joe Wildsmith’s far post to send the Macron into delirium.

It was the first time this season the Whites have led a league game and they looked good for a second goal as Vela – returning from two months out with an ankle injury – had a near-post shot blocked and David Wheater saw a header cleared off the line by Tom Lees.

Mark Beevers made a goal-line clearance from Adam Reach after Wanderers had failed to properly clear a cross from Steven Fletcher.

Ameobi was Bolton’s biggest danger but his impact diminished after a clattering challenge from Jack Hunt, which brought the full-back a yellow card when many around the Macron believed it should have been red.

Half-time sub Jordan Rhodes should have brought Wednesday level when he poked Reach’s cross over the bar.

And Wanderers compounded his error by doubling the lead, Hutchinson turning Fil Morais’s corner into his own net under pressure from Darren Pratley.

Madine somehow managed to hit the post rather than tap in Vela’s cross from close range moments later and within moments the visitors had a goal on the board themselves, Lee heading home after Morais had handled Rhodes’ header to prevent it going over the line.

Morais did get a yellow card but Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal later complained the winger should have been sent off.

Mark Little then hooked another effort off the line from Rhodes and Alnwick produced a sensational save with his right foot to deny sub Lucas Joao.

Wednesday made yet another goal-line clearance from Wheater and Madine was again denied by keeper Wildsmith as the game descended into utter chaos in the final 10 minutes.

The 4,800 travelling fans screamed for a penalty as Lee went sprawling under a challenge from Wheater but referee David Coote booked him for simulation.

Rhodes was stretchered off in injury time after falling heavily in an aerial challenge with Wheater.

And that delay – added to more than six minutes of injury time – made for a fraught finale, with Wednesday’s fans calling for the removal of their manager Carvalhal.

“It was a massive mistake,” said the Portuguese coach, when asked about Lee’s booking for diving.. “And I don’t understand why. I am sure everyone agrees with me. You all saw it.

“If the Bolton fans are honest they will say it was a clear penalty. And Kieran Lee never dives in that situation. It is a clear penalty and red card.

“Let me know, one time when the opposition coach says there was a penalty or offside (for us) because I don’t remember.

“This is making a massive impact on the game. We are losing points in these situations and it is too much.”

On Mr Coote’s call to only caution Morais Carvalhal, sent-off when the sides met in the EFL Cup at the Macron earlier this season, added: “I am not sure about the rule because I think it has changed. But it used to be red card and penalty.”

On the calls from the travelling fans for him to lose his job, Carvalhal added: “The fans are unhappy and they have reasons to be unhappy. I agree with them because I am unhappy “But we are not far from the first positions and all teams are losing points. We still believe we can achieve promotion this season.”