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Match Reports

Report: Owls 3-1 Swansea

23 February 2019

Match Reports

Report: Owls 3-1 Swansea

23 February 2019

The Owls produced by far their most impressive performance and result of the season as they beat Swansea 3-1 at Hillsborough.

Wednesday went into the game without having won by a margin of two goals all campaign but that statistic was brushed aside on the back of a scintillating first half performance.

Adam Reach struck twice, Steven Fletcher once, and the points were almost in the bag before the break.

Indeed, the Owls were impressive all over the park, with new recruits Rolando Aarons and Achraf Lazaar influential from the start.

Aarons claimed two assists down the left and fellow Newcastle man Lazaar eased into the full back position behind as Steve Bruce shuffled his pack.

The fact that Swansea scored a second half consolation through substitute Wayne Routledge should not detract from an all-round dominant display.

From the off, Wednesday meant business and after a hugely encouraging start that saw Fletcher and Aarons go close, the Owls took the lead ten minutes in.

Aarons won possession and played a give and go to then feed Reach, who made no mistake with a well-placed shot on the angle.

It was no more than Wednesday deserved having bossed the ball as Swansea struggled to get out of their own half.

Oli McBurnie had a glimpse of goal but was promptly stopped in his tracks by Michael Hector, with Keiren Westwood mopping up.

Play went straight back to the other end and Barry Bannan found Fletcher but power was lacking in the striker’s header.

The Swans countered with Daniel James forcing a fine block save from Westwood but that was a rare sortie from the visitors.

And on 31 minutes, Wednesday doubled their lead, with Reach on target again.

Aarons crossed from the left, Declan John miskicked and Reach took full advantage with a low drive into the bottom corner.

The best was still to come in the opening period, though, which arrived three minutes before the interval.

Tom Lees hooked a hopeful ball into the box and Fletcher, with his back to goal, unleashed a fierce overhead kick that flew past the bewildered Kristoffer Nordfeldt and in.

Such was Wednesday’s control, the second half display was always going to struggle to match that of the first and Swansea did creep back into proceedings.

The Owls were still the better side but the visitors showed more attacking adventure and were rewarded on 69 minutes.

Substitute Routledge took a pull-back from the overlapping Connor Roberts and slammed home with aid of a big Hector deflection.

Tom Lees cleared off the line in the closing stages from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Westwood denied Daniel James but another Swansea goal would have been harsh on a Wednesday side that continues to climb under new manager Bruce.

Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Hector, Lees, Lazaar, Reach, Hutchinson, Bannan, Aarons (Matias 63), Joao (Iorfa 58), Fletcher (Pelupessy 87)


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