Robbie Elliott, in his first taste of senior football in six weeks, gave Bolton their second Premiership scalp of the League Cup campaign.

To add misery to Wednesday's already dismal season, Gilles de Bilde missed a 79th-minute penalty just as Danny Wilson's beleaguered team were threatening to play their way back into contention.

Elliott was not even in Wanderers' plans 24 hours before the game. But eight minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute, he rose to convert Eidur Gudjohnsen's header from Hasney Aljofree's cross.

As an advertisement for the merits of the much-maligned Worthington Cup, the tie served its purpose well, a result in part, it must be said, of unpredictable and gale-force winds allied with driving rain.

Bolton, under the relatively new management of Sam Allardyce, are playing with much confidence and gusto and must still be wondering how they did not have the tie under control inside the opening quarter-hour.

The worst miss was produced by Bo Hansen after Kevin Pressman had fumbled Gudni Bergsson's long drive. Hansen and Gudjohnsen deliberated before the open goal, before the Dane eventually flicked the ball against the post.

Wednesday also relished the contest. Mark Fish and Jussi Jaaskelainen blocked Niclas Alexandersson close to goal, and the goalkeeper turned aside an Andy Booth shot.

Closest of all, Wednesday were denied a penalty when Booth was blatantly tugged back by Aljofree.

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, O'Kane (Holden 79), Bergsson (Elliott 46), Fish, Whitlow, Johansen, Jensen, Aljofree, Gardner, Hansen (Taylor 64), Gudjohnsen. Subs Not Used: Passi, Banks. Booked: Gardner. Goals: Elliott 53.

Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman, Atherton, Walker (Sonner 57), Sibon (McKeever 57), Nolan, Rudi, Jonk, Alexandersson, Hinchcliffe (Thome 46), Booth, De Bilde. Subs. Not Used: Cresswell, Srnicek.

Referee: K Lynch (Kirk Hammerton).