Sheffield Wednesday made it nine points from a possible nine in the lat three games as they recorded their second away win of the season, putting an end toHartlepool’s unbeaten start to the season in the process.
Both sides came in the game in fine form, Wednesday having chalked up back to back victories for the first time this season and Pool having won four in succession. The home side fashioned the first presentable opportunity in the opening ten minutes when midfielder Antony Sweeney headed wide from close range after a looping cross from veteran Nolberto Solano.
After coping with early pressure from their hosts the Owls began to assert themselves with Ben Marshall once again proving to be the chief tormentor. The on-loan Stoke winger has provided plenty of assists with his dangerous crosses in recent matches but it was his hands that provided the opening goal on this occasion.Marshall’s long throw found its way to Reda Johnson whose glancing header gave the visitors the lead just after the half-hour.
At this stage Wednesday were controlling the pace of the game with Jose Semedo on top of things in midfield and the home side were finding it tough to test Bywater in the Owls goal. The visitors went close to doubling their lead shortly before the break when a driven cross fromMarshalljust evaded the reach of top scorer Gary Madine.
Hartlepoolstarted the second half well and a succession of corners led to Sweeney heading another decent chance wide of the target. The home side were enjoying much more of the game in the second period but Wednesday posed a sporadic threat on the break with Madine and Marshall both going close.
Former Rotherham United favourite Andy Monkhouse went close to levelling matters with twenty-five minutes remaining. The substitute had Bywater beaten with a firm drive only to see his effort cannon back into play off the post.
After that stroke of luck Wednesday did enough to keep their hosts at bay in the closing stages and might have given the score-line a more flattering look late on when substitute Liam Palmer went through on goal only to miss the target.
The miss didn’t prove costly though as Wednesday went back to Sheffieldwith three points in the bag and a second successive clean sheet. The victory sees the Owls climb to 4th place in League One, level on points with 2nd position, five points behind leaders Charlton.
Next up for Wednesday is the visit of Chesterfieldto Hillsborough next Saturday followed by the Sheffieldderby at Bramall Laneon October 16th.
Source: FOOTYMAD
