The Owls cruised into round two of the Carling Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over League Two side Rochdale.

Jermaine Johnson was the class act up front, netting two goals either side of half time, with Etienne Esajas also on the scoresheet after his powerful first half volley broke the deadlock.

The gulf in quality between the two sides was evident throughout the 90 minutes as the visitors failed to find any way through a resilient Wednesday side.

The Owls made five changes from the side that started against Barnsley on Saturday, with Tommy Miller making his debut in midfield.

Sean McAllister and Esajas also made the starting line-up, along with Frank Simek and Mark Beevers who both occupied a place on the bench on the opening day of the season.

The Owls looked lively in the early throes of the game as Johnson used his pace to trouble Rochdale right back Marcus Holness to centre for Marcus Tudgay, who flicked the ball goalwards but it was easily dealt with in goal by Kenny Arthur.

More good work from Johnson almost led to the first goal of the match on 12 minutes when he sliced through Dale's defence, before picking out Miller 12 yards from goal, but the midfielder's low drive was saved by the feet of Arthur.

But the Owls did have the lead moments later, and in spectacular fashion, as Esajas thumped a volley from 25 yards past the helpless Dale keeper. The Dutchman kept his eye on the ball as it dropped towards him and blasted emphatically into the net.

And two minutes later, the Owls doubled their lead as Johnson scored his second goal in as many games. The winger had looked a threat from kick off and, having weaved through a number of Rochdale challenges, blasted home from close range.

The game settled down and Wednesday as expected were enjoying the lion's share of possession.

Rochdale gave the Owls a warning five minutes before the break, working the ball well outside the 18-yard box, ending with a decent chance for striker Chris Dagnall to shoot on target but Lee Grant saved well.

The game was wrapped up five minutes after the break when a superbly worked move from hosts was finished by Johnson.

Beevers showed some tricky footwork in defence before finding Potter, who lifted the ball over Dale's back four, with Johnson latching onto the pass and calmly lofting over the outrushing keeper.

Johnson left the field to a big ovation from the home fans, before being replaced by Michael Gray who was immediately involved in the action.

His first touch of the match was a cross that found Miller in space who powered his header on target but was denied a debut goal once more by Arthur - pushing behind for a corner.

Gray was almost provider again moments later as his through ball was inch perfect to second half substitute Francis Jeffers, but Dale defender Craig Dawson was back quickly to make a challenge.

Owls: Grant, Simek, Purse, Beevers, Spurr (Hinds 60), McAllister, Potter, Miller, Esajas, Tudgay (Jeffers 60), Johnson (Gray 71)

Unused Substitutes: O'Donnell, Wood, O'Connor, Boden

Rochdale: Arthur, Holness (Brizzell 74), T Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, Rundle (Shaw 53), Jones, J Kennedy, Thompson, Dagnall, Buckley (Higginbotham 53)

Unused Substitutes: Edwards, Sheriff, Flitcroft, Brown

Attendance: 6696