Owls miss out
A well-struck free kick from Bakary Sako on the stroke of half time separated the two sides at Molineux on Saturday as Wolves claimed a 1-0 win over Wednesday.
The defeat was the Owls’ sixth consecutive reverse in all competitions, as Wednesday’s search to end their current slump in the Championships continues on Tuesday with a trip to Burnley.
Wednesday made a strong start to the contest in the West Midlands and had a decent shout for a penalty inside two minutes when Michail Antonio went down under a clumsy looking challenge from Stephen Ward.
Antonio, though, continued to look dangerous in the early throes and sent a good ball into the path of Chris O’Grady, whose arrowed drive hit the side netting.
Razak Boukari then fired the hosts first chance of the game on target after eight minutes but Chris Kirkland was down quickly to make a smart save.
The Owls continued to look lively up top as Antonio worked himself a yard of space on the right to send in a teasing cross that was just out of the reach of O’Grady’s diving headed attempt.
Wolves midfielder Sako then sent a ferocious effort just over the bar from 30 yards before striker Kevin Doyle saw his strike from a similar distance fizz just past the post.
The game began to settle into a relatively even affair with both sides enjoying spells of possession but the breakthrough did come before half time, and for the hosts.
Sako’s retaken free kick from 20 yards flew into the bottom corner as Wolves seized the advantage heading into the interval.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake looked to double the home side’s advantage shortly after the interval but hit a firm shot wide of Kirkland’s right hand upright.
Slawomir Peszko showed neat skill out on the right wing to cut control the ball dead with his first touch before cutting inside and curling over the bar.
The home side continued to press and boss the lion’s share of the late possession and there was to be no further action in front of goal as the referee brought an end to the contest, as the Owls succumbed to their fifth straight league defeat.
Wolves: Ikeme, Henry, Sako, Ward, Johnson, Berra, Boukari (Peszko 14), Doumbia, Foley, Doyle (Batth 90), Ebanks-Blake (Sigurdson 84)
Substitutes: Edwards, Stearman, Davis, De Vries
Owls: Kirkland, J Johnson, Taylor, Gardner, Mattock, Antonio, Barkley, Semedo, Pecnik (Mayor 64), O'Grady, Bothroyd (Rodri 76)
Substitutes: Bywater, Jones, Llera, Corry, Madine