REPORT: Wolves 3-0 Owls
- Owls lose 3-0 at Wolves
- Controversial penalty paves the way
- Wednesday face Rotherham this weekend
The Owls were hit by a controversial first half penalty that set Wolves up for victory at Molineux.
Claude Dielna appeared unlucky to be penalised for a tackle on Nouha Dicko but the referee pointed to the spot and Bakary Sako fired home.
Former Wednesday loanee Benik Afobe extended the advantage after the break before James Henry sealed the win and continued Wanderers’ ascent towards the play-offs.
Wednesday did have their chances but could not capitalise, which proved the main difference between the two sides on the night.
Indeed, it was the Owls that carved the first chance early into the contest, with Atdhe Nuhiu heading narrowly over from a Chris Maguire cross.
Wolves hit straight back and Afobe snatched at a low Sako feed and skewed wide.
Rajiv van La Parra then shot at Keiren Westwood having neatly controlled a deep, cross-field ball before the visitors countered with skipper Tom Lees just missing the target from a Lewis McGugan free kick.
A goal was almost due such was the pace of the game and it duly arrived - albeit in contentious circumstances - on 17 minutes.
Dielna was adjudged to have felled Dicko in the area and Sako stepped up to coolly dispatch from 12 yards.
Wolves’ tails were up and Kevin McDonald could have made it two on the half-hour after being sent clear by van La Parra but Westwood stood his ground and gathered.
The Wednesday keeper denied dangerman Dicko with a diving save moments later and Jack Price missed a good opportunity ten minutes before the break.
And the Owls welcomed the whistle as little went their way in the first half, underlined by a fabulous Tomas Kuszczak save when Jacques Maghoma whistled a header goalwards.
The recalled Maghoma went close again five minutes into the second period, firing inches past the post with Kuszczak beaten.
Maguire crossed accurately for Nuhiu but the big man was out of luck with his header – while only the opposite was true for Afobe on 55 minutes as Wolves doubled their lead.
McDonald delivered a telling ball into the box and Afobe’s volley smashed against the post – and rolled nicely into the opposite side of the net.
It was a big blow for the Owls, who pressed on regardless and Marnick Vermijl saw a long ranger fizz past the upright.
But Wolves were out of sight on 67 minutes when Henry struck the goal of the game.
Picking up possession 25 yards out, little seemed on for the substitute but Henry unleashed a wicked curling drive that nestled into the top corner and secured all three points.
Wolves: Kuszczak, Doherty, Golbourne, Stearman (Ebanks-Landell 74), Batth, Sako, McDonald (Edwards 90), Afobe, van la Parra (Henry 53), Price, Dicko
Owls: Westwood, Hutchinson (Melo 77), May (Lavery 63), Nuhiu, Maguire, Lees, Helan, Maghoma, Dielna, Vermijl, McGugan