Owls lose out to Rovers
The Owls suffered a 1-0 loss against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday.
Grant Hanley’s early strike on four minutes proved to be the difference in a game that Wednesday did not deserve to lose.
The Owls had controlled large parts of the clash over the Pennines but couldn’t cancel out the early setback, as the search for a return to winning ways continues.
Wednesday made three changes from Friday’s derby against Leeds with Gary Madine, Jermaine Johnson and Martin Taylor all involved from the off.
Despite a relatively bright start by Dave Jones’ men, it was Rovers who gained an early advantage inside five minutes.
Great work from David Dunn down the left saw the midfielder reach the byline before squaring for Hanley who tapped home from close range.
Wednesday sought a quick response and Jermaine Johnson almost provided it – albeit inadvertently – when the winger’s cross took a handy deflection that required Paul Robinson to make a save at his near post.
Dangerman Jordan Rhodes then sent an arching drive just over the angle before the Owls began to enjoy pockets of possession around the half way point in the opening period.
Miguel Llera then sent a free kick from 20 yards just wide but it was at the half hour point when Wednesday carved their best chance of the first 45.
Michail Antonio chest controlled a high punt upfield, taking the ball neatly into his stride, but hit agonisingly wide of Robinson’s left hand upright.
Taylor then prevented Ruben Rochina from a close range tap in with an outstanding challenge on the edge of the six yard box.
After the break, it was more of the same, with Wednesday resuming on the front foot.
A dangerous free kick into the box by Paul Corry was met by the advancing Llera at the back stick, who headed wide of the target in front of the travelling Wednesday support.
The attacking emphasis remained with Wednesday as the visitors continued to mount pressure on the Rovers goal in search of the equaliser.
But the home side were not without a threat of their own as Rochina tested Kirkland with firm drive on target that was well dealt with by the ex-Liverpool man.
Lewis Buxton was next to try his luck after a drop of the shoulder outside the area gave the defender a yard of space to run into the box but his strike flashed just wide of the goal.
The Owls boss then sent Rodri into the mix, who replaced Corry, as Wednesday began to up the ante in search of an equaliser they had richly deserved.
Ross Barkley fired wide from outside the area before Morten Gamst Pedersen’s deflected free kick almost found its way into the net but for the well-placed Llera who was on hand to clear off the line to keep Wednesday in the game.
With time ticking down on a rovers win, Rochina forced Kirkland into making a fine stop from distance as it became clear that it was not going to be Wednesday’s day.
Blackburn: Robinson, Orr, Olsson (Pedersen 74), Givet, Lowe, Dunn (Rochina 35), Rhodes, Dann, Etuhu, Hanley, Kazim-Richards (Murphy 83)
Substitutes: Kean, Formica, Gomes, Rosado
Owls: Kirkland, Buxton, Taylor, Llera, Jones (O'Grady 88), J Johnson, Barkley, Semedo, Corry (Rodri 76), Antonio, Madine
Substitutes: Davies, Mattock, Pecnik, Mayor, Maguire