Steven Fletcher off the mark as Sheffield Wednesday top Wigan

10 September 2016 16:23

Fernando Forestieri and Steven Fletcher scored the goals to secure Sheffield Wednesday's second win of the Sky Bet Championship season as they defeated Wigan 2-1 at Hillsborough.

Will Grigg had given the visitors an early lead but Fletcher scored his first goal for the Owls before the break.

Forestieri, linked with a move from the club during the summer transfer window, added a second after the break to confirm Wednesday's dominance and wrap up the points.

Wigan were saved in the first minute when Luke Burke made a fine tackle on Forestieri after the forward had been played into the visitors'penalty area by Kieran Lee.

Wigan went ahead when Tom Lees' pass was intercepted by Michael Jacobs and he made ground down the left before crossing low for Grigg to side-foot home from close range.

Wednesday's play in the first 20 minutes was summed up when a fine move across the pitch broke down as Barry Bannan played his forward ball too close to right back Luke Burke.

Forestieri then snatched at a shot when he had time to pick his target from the edge of the area as Wednesday continued to struggle for attacking fluency.

But Wednesday drew level just before the half hour when Bannan played a ball over the Wigan defence into the left channel.

Steven Fletcher held off his marker before sliding the ball left-footed across Adam Bogdan and into the opposite corner for his first goal of the season.

Five minutes before the break Keiren Westwood tipped over a shot from distance by Luke Burke.

Wednesday should have taken the lead in first-half stoppage time but Bannan's clever chip over the visitors' defence bounced too high for Ross Wallace and he could only steer the ball wide of the post.

Wednesday started the second half at pace and Fletcher was denied a second when his header from Wallace's cross hit the top of the bar five minutes after the interval.

Forestieri's shot was kept out by a fine Reece Burke block and from the resulting corner Lees headed just wide of the post as Wednesday continued their bright start to the second period.

Wallace shot across the face of goal as Wednesday's forward play continued to force gaps in the visitors' defence and they got the second goal their dominance deserved just after the hour.

Forestieri steered the ball home from a tight angle after his low cross from the right had been cleared back to him.

Substitute Gary Hooper nearly scored Wednesday's third when his overhead kick from Lee's header down was straight at Bogdan as Wigan struggled to stay in the game.

From a rare Wigan attack Grigg was flagged offside well before his shot was saved by Westwood.

Stephen Warnock hit a low shot which Westwood gathered atthe second attempt as Wednesday had more than enough to secure the victory.

A late curled free-kick from Wallace was off target but the Owls were already more than value for the three points.

Source: PA