Sheffield Wednesday 0 Doncaster Rovers 1: Owls are defeated as Rovers respond to Dickov

The home fans were still reeling from the Owls’ 4-1 collapse at Birmingham the previous weekend and, with winter just around the corner, Wednesday are without a win this season. So to see them put in a 45-minute shift where they bossed proceedings was a welcome change.

Stephen McPhail, making his Hillsborough debut after signing on a short-term deal, was the best midfielder on the pitch, linking play with a silky touch.

It was only Wednesday’s final ball and a lack of clinical finishing – not for the first time this season – which failed to break Rovers’ resistance.

So as the half-time applause petered out, Doncaster manager Paul Dickov tore into his players in the Hillsborough dressing room.

It had the desired effect. Substitute James Coppinger gave the visitors much-needed width – it was his cross that would supply Federico Macheda with the winning header – and as the game progressed it had seemed likely the visitors would deliver a sucker-punch.

“In the first half, I was disappointed with the performance. I thought Wednesday were better than us, with and without the ball,” said Dickov.

“But we are going to get days like that. You have got to give Wednesday a lot of credit because they played off the front foot, had a lot of possession and pressurised us, without really testing the goalkeeper too much.

“At half-time we changed the system around and I thought we were a lot better. We kept the ball better, were harder to break down and looked a threat on the break.

“They knew exactly what I thought at half-time.

“I am delighted with the three points more than anything else. We have been playing really well recently and not getting the points we deserved.

“Our back four and goalkeeper were magnificent. It’s not going to be pretty all the time.

“We played better with the ball against Forest and at Watford than we did (at Wednesday). But first and foremost you have to do the ugly side.”

The half-time tactical changes saw Macheda brought in from his wide position and his ruthless display in front of goal pleased his manager.

“It’s what he does, he’s a goal-scorer,” said Dickov. “He had two chances last week, scored two goals, and had one real chance (on Saturday) and scored. He nearly scored just before with a great little run.

“He’s got ability. He’s still not match-fit, so we think there’s more goals in him.

“He comes alive in the box,. He’s got that horrible knack of being in the right place at the right time. It’s what any team wants, a striker who can score goals.”

Macheda had been thwarted by Chris Kirkland moments before he netted, and the Italian striker admitted Dickov’s half-time rollicking had had the desired effect.

“That was good from him because our first half wasn’t good enough,” said Macheda. “We knew if we carried on like that we would have got beaten.

“I think the manager gave us a good shout, woke us up. We deserved it.

“That’s a big win for us. In the first half we should have done better as a team.

“It was a great ball from Copps and I jumped before the defender. It was a great feeling. It’s a great feeling because I have not been scoring for a long time.

“I am not very happy about my performance (against Wednesday). In the first half Sheffield did very well and put us in trouble. I was wide and didn’t get the ball.

“I think all the team shouldn’t be happy about the first half, but in the second half we changed the system and think we did great as a unit. We knew we could win the game.

“It was a big win, a derby game, and meant a lot to our fans. It shows we can do good things in this league.

“We know we have a good group of players but need to keep working hard, do our best, and then see where we are.”

Macheda hopes to extend his loan from Premier League champions Manchester United until January.

“That would be great. Now I feel good, I am getting my confidence back and it would be a shame to be here for just a month.

“I would like to stay until January and then we will see what happens. It’s nice to feel wanted.”

Neither goalkeeper had much to do in the opening 45 minutes, Atdhe Nuhiu poking wide after Rob Jones’s error presented the Owls striker with a chance.

Rovers goalkeeper Ross Turnbull was then able to thwart Jermaine Johnson’s acrobatics when his volley went straight into his hands.

Wednesday showed more urgency after the break and should have taken the lead.

First, Nuhiu’s header was cleared off the line by Rob Jones before Turnbull blocked Miguel Llera – one of four changes made by Owls boss Dave Jones – at his near post.

Austrian striker Nuhiu saw his glancing header hit a post, and Kirkland’s blushes were saved when a breakaway from an Owls corner, where he had gone forward, saw Duffy try his luck from 60 yards but he missed the empty net and the ball rolled wide.

Jones praised debutants Roger Johnson and McPhail, and explained why he started with Matty Fryatt – the loan striker from Hull City – on the bench.

“Matty only signed half-an-hour before we trained on Friday so I thought it would be best if we put him on the bench to start with,” he said.

“When we put him on, he showed one or two good touches and I’m sure he will be a terrific acquisition for this football club.

“I thought Roger and Stephen did well. Roger does what he does; he heads, he kicks and he organises. Stephen ran the show in the midfield. I don’t think he gave the ball away and he was really composed.

“So I can take plenty of positives from that game but what I can’t take is the points and that is hard to swallow.”