REPORT: Burton 3-1 Wednesday
Burton Albion inflicted a maiden defeat on Wednesday for the 2016/17 campaign and were full value for the points.
The Owls were below par in Staffordshire and the Brewers took full advantage to emerge triumphant.
With two defeats from their first two games in the Championship, Nigel Clough’s side went on the attack from the outset and inside three minutes, Stuart Beavon and Jackson Irvine had chances to register.
There was no stopping the hosts and they hit the front on seven minutes. Matty Palmer swung a set piece to the back post and Kyle McFadzean was on hand to stab home.
Burton’s joy was short-lived, though, and the Owls were level on 13 minutes. Referee Neil Swarbrick spotted what appeared to be shirt tug on Sam Hutchinson from a Ross Wallace corner and pointed to the spot.
Gary Hooper stepped up to do the necessaries from 12 yards and Wednesday were back in the game.
An even encounter followed, with chances at a premium – until the stroke of half time when Burton restored their lead after Jose Semedo was forced off through injury.
Skipper John Mousinho crossed from the right and Irvine made no mistake with his second opportunity of the half.
Fernando Forestieri was introduced for the second period – Atdhe Nuhiu swiftly followed – but the Owls almost lost sight of a result on 65 minutes.
Former Wednesday striker Chris O’Grady darted to the touchline and pulled back for Tom Naylor, whose vicious drive was goal-bound until Keiren Westwood produced a world class save to tip over the crossbar.
That seemed to give the visitors fresh impetus and Jon McLaughlin shone between the Brewers’ sticks in keeping out a Barry Bannan piledriver from distance.
The Owls were much improved but Burton still carried a threat – and were home and hosed with 13 minutes to go.
O’Grady scuffed a Tom Flanagan feed across goal and the ball fell nicely into the path of Lloyd Dyer to slam into the roof of the net from close range.
Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Hutchinson, Semedo (Palmer 45), Pudil, Lee, Bannan, Abdi (Forestieri 46) Wallace, Hooper (Nuhiu 58), Fletcher