Defeat nudges Owls closer to drop zone

A second-half collapse meant goals from Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Ian Goodison and Enoch Showunmi, coupled with a red card for midfielder Giles Coke, nudged Wednesday closer to the relegation zone.

Manager Gary Megson made five changes to the Owls. In came defensive duo Tommy Spurr and Reda Johnson, midfielders Isaiah Osbourne and Gary Teale plus top scorer Gary Madine.

Johnson was first to threaten for Wednesday but headed Coke’s corner over, and at the other end Lucas Akins just missed out.

Winger Teale raced clear into the penalty area in the 24th minute and picked out Clinton Morrison, whose shot was blocked.

Madine forced Tranmere goalkeeper Tony Warner into his first save of the game after 55 minutes with a long-range effort, then glanced a header wide. But the Owls fell behind five minutes later when Elford-Alliyu headed home.

The visitors then suffered a double blow in the 65th minute. First Coke was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Welsh, and from the resulting free-kick, the Owls were caught napping as Goodison blasted home.

Megson threw on Paul Heffernan to try to salvage something before former Owls striker Showunmi hammered home a third.

Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver, Spurr, Morrison, R Johnson, Reynolds (Jones 80), Teale (Heffernan 68), Osbourne, O’Connor, Coke, Morrison, Madine. Unused substitutes: Jameson, Hinds, Sedgwick, Beevers, Mellor.

Tranmere Rovers: Warner, Kay, Goodison, McChrystal, Cresswell, Welsh, Taylor, Labadie, Akins, Showunmi, Elford-Alliyu. Unused substitutes: Cathalina, Robinson, Weir, Collister, Wood, Bakayogo, McGurk.

Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancs).