A stunning first half strike from defender Joey Phuthi settled a close-fought clash with Wigan at Middlewood Road on Saturday.

The full back struck sweetly from 20 yards past Latics keeper Tom Watson to earn Wednesday maximum points.

It ends a run of five league games without a win for Andy Holdsworth’s side.

The Owls began the term with a 3-1 win over Colchester but have since gone on to suffer narrow defeats against Swansea, Peterborough and Burnley, while also drawing at home to Ipswich and Hull.

The victory comes at a welcome time for the academy as the Under-18s have a big week ahead.

On Friday night, the youngsters head to Barnsley for the South Yorkshire derby at Oakwell Training Ground before turning their attentions to the FA Youth Cup-tie v Burton at Hillsborough.

Owls: Charles, Rodrigues, Maltby, Chapman, Flannery, Tapudzai, Thornton, Fernandes (Maciag 80), Phuthi, Moses, Bobea (Bradford 64)