Sheffield Wednesday player ratings: New attacking players lead way in League Cup win

Then, a young side needed penalties to see off the Trotters in Lancashire, now a reinvigorated and near full-strength team beat them in normal time with a strong second-half performance helped by a red card for Xavier Simons.

Here is how the players rated.

Joe Lumley – took crosses well and his distribution was good 7

Yan Valery – one piece of defending late in the first half showed his class but too much of Bolton's early threat came down his side 6

Gabriel Otegbayo – played his part in a clean sheet and forced a save at the other end 6

Sil Swinkels – a composed defensive performance from the young central defender 7

Max Lowe – got forward well and was close to scoring at the start of the second half 7

Jarvis Thornton – neither shined nor struggled 6

Barry Bannan – did not dominate the game as he can, but a lovely pass for the goal 7

Jordi Liongoala – a bit of a mixed back on the right, but much more good than bad 7

Callum Slattery – looked a real class act playing in the hole and when he dropped deeper with his clever passes 8

Harry Gray – obvious why he is so highly rated, one piece of control with his shoulder was audacious. Started on the left, finished in the hole 8

Mason Burstow – ran hard but with competition for attacking places high, he needs to do more 6

Substitutes:

Louie Barry (for Thornton, 62) – provided good energy and a goal threat from the bench 6

Jamal Lowe (for Burstow, 62) – terrific goal which will hopefully lift his confidence after a tough 2025-26 7

Will Grainger (for Gray, 78) – N/A

Sean Fusire (for Bannan, 78) – N/A

Liam Palmer (for Valery, 85) – N/A

Not used: Santos, McNeill, Trueman, Weaver.