The Owls’ Under-23s got 2019 off to a flyer by beating titlle hopefuls Burnley 1-0 at Curzon Ashton on Monday afternoon.

Defender Ben Hughes scored the only goal of the game in the first half to seal maximum points.

The Clarets could consider them unlucky having dominated much of the ball but Wednesday turned in a resolute performance, with Burnley drawing a blank for only the second time this season.

The Owls scored the decisive goal on 20 minutes as Hughes diverted a deflected feed across keeper Adam Legzdins and in.

At the other end, Cameron McCulloch expertly kept out Tinashe Chakwana from close range as he showed a safe pair of hands throughout in difficult conditions over the Pennines.

Wednesday countered with Fraser Preston going close six minutes into the second half after terrific work from Liam Shaw.

Try as they might, the hosts could not break Wednesday down, with Ali Koiki’s late effort bravely blocked by Hughes the nearest they came to a leveller.

Wednesday: McCulloch, Hughes, Clarke, Lee, O’Grady, Thorniley, Stobbs (Hunt 79), Kirby, Damba (Borukov 75), Shaw, Preston (Grant 64)