Sheffield Wednesday 0 Wolves 2 – Report and pictures

A poor first half passed by with little in the way of goalmouth action, with Morgan Gibbs-White spurning Wolves' best chance when he shot wide left-footed.

Bonatini netted from the excellent Adama Traore's cross early in the second half for his first goal since December and after Gibbs-White hit a post substitute Helder Costa wrapped things up five minutes from time from the penalty spot.

Analysis

Ah, the Championship...no wonder we don't miss you.

This game was reminiscent of last season in so many ways – some good, some bad, writes Tim Spiers at Hillsborough.

For a start Wolves won and kept a clean sheet, as they did here in 2017/18. Then there was the fact Wolves received some downright rough treatment from their limited opponents, John Ruddy had barely anything to do (bar one stunning save in the second half) and Leo Bonatini scored a goal.

Yes, remember that notion? Bonatini finding the net? It had been eight months and 24 days since he managed it last, away at Blues in December. That was a wait of 27 appearances.

In terms of minutes on the pitch it was precisely 23 hours and 59 minutes before his drought ended. Only Jack Bauer defusing a nuclear bomb could have timed it better.

Bonatini scored it but much of the credit went to Adama Traore, who made it with a now-trademark searing run down the right wing, seconds after he'd left two defenders seeing stars when teeing up Gibbs-White, who would later hit the post with a great shot from range.

There were plenty of positives to take, with four debutants (Leander Dendoncker, Elliot Watt and subs Pedro Goncalves and Benny Ashley-Seal) all making their mark, Traore was outstanding, Costa made an impact and also scored, Gibbs-White was impressive and, of course, that Bonatini goal.

It also extended Wolves record of not conceding a goal in this competition for 489 minutes. A successful evening, then.

Match report

Only two players – Conor Coady and Matt Doherty – remained from the team that drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Saturday.

Leander Dendoncker made his debut in defence and Adama Traore was handed his full debut after two substitute appearances. Getting their first action of the season were John Ruddy, Kortney Hause and Romain Saiss – while young Scottish midfielder Elliot Watt came in for his senior club debut. The 18-year-old had impressed in pre-season.

However there was no room in the squad for club captain Danny Batth, whose future at the club would appear to be in doubt.

Championship mid-table outfit Sheffield Wednesday made 11 changes from their 2-1 win over Ipswich, but still fielded a few familiar names in Fernando Forestieri and ex-Wolves players Steven Fletcher and David Jones.

What followed, perhaps unsurprisingly for two cobbled-together line-ups, was a dog of a first half with precious little quality on excitement on show.

Wednesday actually nearly scored inside 70 seconds when an inswinging free kick deflected menacingly towards Ruddy, but it sadly wasn't a sign of things to come in terms of goalmouth action.

Wolves looked threatening whenever Gibbs-White and Traore, playing either side of Bonatini, had space to run into but in general their passing game was off (Saiss hit a couple of really poor passes straight out of play) and there was nothing in terms of penetration despite some occasionally bright build-up play.

The best chance of the half fell to Gibbs-White, who was roaming to Bonatini's left and cutting inside to allow Vinagre space to bomb board. Bonatini slipped the ball to the teenager who moved towards the box having peeled off his man, but he dragged his 15-yard left-footed shot just across goal.

Bonatini, without a goal since last December (27 appearances and more than 23 hours of football), was almost presented with an opportunity from Vinagre's low cross but ended up trying to tee up Gibbs-White and a Wednesday defender nicked the ball off his toe.

Traore tried to spark Wolves into life with a couple of his express train runs down the right wing, but Wednesday had two men on him to snuff out any meaningful end product.

In fact the hosts dished out plenty of rough treatment with Gibbs-White and Vinagre on the receiving end.

At the other end Ruddy was redundant and Dendoncker didn't have a huge amount to do defensively. He did impress when moving the ball out from the back though, in a composed and authoritative manner.

Fellow debutant Watt enjoyed a tidy first 45 minutes as a senior pro, coming deep to pick the ball up from the back three and recycling possession quickly and sensibly.

No doubt after a few stern pointers at half time Wolves came out looking much more like themselves after the break – and soon took charge.

It was inspired by Traore who almost set up a goal in the 52nd minute, brilliantly turning one player and beating another before slotting to Gibbs-White who should have done better from just inside the box.

Seconds later he repeated the trick – and this time Wolves finished it off. Traore hared to the byline and cut back for Bonatini, who ended his achingly-long wait for a goal with a smart side-footed finish from 15 yards. The relief was etched all over the likeable Brazilian's face.

With their tails up Wolves were inches from making it 2-0 six minutes later when Gibbs-White let fly from 25 yards and it smacked off the post.

Traore was beating players for fun and Wednesday's only tactic now was to hack him down, with Frederik Nielsen the latest to be booked. Then the Owls almost levelled things up from nowhere – Fletcher cleverly looped a shot goalwards with his back to goal and Ruddy had to pull off a stupendous save.

Nuno handed out another debut with Portuguese midfielder Pedro Goncalves replacing Elliot Watt, while Helder Costa came on for Gibbs-White.

Both teams had half chances – George Boyd fired wide and Traore hit one at Wildsmith – before a fourth debutant on the night, Benny Ashley-Seal, replaced Bonatini with 10 minutes remaining.

Wolves looked the more likely scorers – and so it proved when they wrapped things up five minutes from time. Costa raced past his man and was hauled down in the box for a clear penalty, which he took himself and beat Wildsmith to make it 2-0 and seal Wolves' passage into the third round.

Key moments

52 – Traore skips past two players and tees up Gibbs-White whose shot is too close to keeper Wildsmith

53 – GOAL – Traore feeds BONATINI who sidefoots home from 12 yards

59 – Gibbs-White hits one from 25 yards and it smacks against the post

62 – Ruddy denies Fletcher with a fingertip save

85 – GOAL – Penalty to Wolves after COSTA is brought down – he takes it himself and sends Wildsmith the wrong way

Teams

Sheffield Wednesday (4-2-3-1): Wildsmith; Baker, Nielsen, Hutchinson, Fox; Lee, Bannan; Preston (Nuhiu, 72), Forestieri, Boyd; Fletcher (c) (Stobbs, 72). Subs: Dawson, Palmer, O'Grady, Hunt, Kirby.

Wolves (3-4-3): Ruddy; Dendoncker, Coady (c), Hause; Doherty, Watt (Goncalves, 62), Saiss, Vinagre; Gibbs-White (Costa, 72), Bonatini (Ashley-Seal, 80), Traore. Subs: Norris, Bennett, Giles, Otto.

Goals: Bonatini (53) Costa (pen 85)

Attendance: 13,597 (2.495 Wolves fans)

Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside)

Next up

Back to league action on Saturday and a first ever trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United. Kick off is 3pm.