Sharp sting for struggling Wednesday

Sheffield United striker Sharp, who is on a season-long loan at the Keepmoat Stadium, powered in half-time substitute Simon Gillett's superb cross in the 78th minute of Tuesday night's Championship clash.It was his sixth goal in as many games to clinch Sean O'Driscoll's side their first back-to-back league wins of the season.But the Sheffield-born forward's eighth goal of the season was a dagger to the heart for struggling Wednesday, who have now gone eight games without a win.Owls manager Brian Laws, relieved his players finally rolled up their sleeves for the cause, will take little solace from a night full of effort and commitment when he looks at the league table.O'Driscoll named the same side which started the win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Laws made four changes in a bid to halt the slide.Captain Darren Purse was recalled together with midfielder Sean McAllister, winger Jermaine Johnson and striker Leon Clarke.The game's opening exchanges were more in keeping with a park game on a Sunday morning than a local derby, with neither side mustering a single effort on target until the 29th minute.Rovers midfielder James Coppinger curled a right-footed effort wide of Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant's left-hand post, but the opening half-hour fell way short of expectation.Wednesday, who employed a five-man midfield with Clarke as a lone striker, stifled Rovers' usual fluency and responded with a 20-yard shot from O'Connor that flew straight into goalkeeper Neil Sullivan's hands.Wednesday almost broke the stalemate just before the break when Clarke wriggled free in the penalty area, but the burly forward pulled a low, angled shot narrowly wide.The Owls had shown sufficient hunger for their under fire boss in the first period to give their 3,000 travelling fans heart for the second and the game followed a similar pattern after the restart.Doncaster created little, hustled out of their stride by a visiting side compensating for a clear lack of confidence with bucketfuls of endeavour.James Chambers was booked for his lunge on Clarke on the edge of the area in the 64th minute, but Darren Potter thumped the subsequent free-kick into the wall.James O'Connor, always stretching, headed Coppinger's corner just over the crossbar as a near-full Keepmoat waited patiently for the contest to ignite.And when Laws sent on Luke Varney for Clarke with 19 minutes to go they were still waiting.Rovers midfielder Shiels made way for Mark Wilson soon after and then, in the 78th minute, the home side broke the deadlock.Gillett was sent clear down the right behind the Wednesday back line and his fine cross was met by Sharp, who sent a thumping header beyond Grant.Wednesday defender Beevers volleyed just over in the dying moments to leave the Owls without a goal in over seven hours of football.

Source: Team_Talk