Sheffield Wednesday 4 Hartlepool United 1: Scoring spree continues but injuries mount up

TROUBLED Sheffield Wednesday took another step towards Wembley last night thanks to Neil Mellor's hat-trick.

But their Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section quarter-final victory came at a cost with the loss of defenders Jon Otsemobor and Darren Purse to first-half injuries.

With Alan Irvine's team currently under a transfer embargo before next week's High Court date over a 600,000 unpaid tax bill, it means depleted Wednesday could be forced to put out a makeshift defence for Saturday's visit of Rochdale in League One.

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At least Irvine's side look to have rediscovered their scoring boots, having clocked up nine goals in two cup ties inside the space of four days.

The Owls made one change from the side which beat Southport 5-2 in the FA Cup, Mark Beevers dropping to the bench to be replaced by Lewis Buxton at centre-half.

That meant Irvine resisted the chance to restore rested striker Marcus Tudgay after new partnership Mellor and Clinton Morrison had both scored on Sunday.

And the new-look front line combined again to open the scoring last night after eight minutes. A driving run from winger Gary Teale ended with a low cross to Morrison's feet, his lay-off fell perfectly for former Liverpool striker Mellor and he curled his shot beyond the despairing dive of visiting goalkeeper Jake Kean.

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Six minutes later and Mellor turned provider, allowing Morrison time in the area to turn his marker and fire in a rasping shot which Kean did well to knock away.

Wednesday suffered a first-half injury blow when right-back Otsemobor limped off, Beevers moving to centre-half and Buxton moving out wide.

But it did little to upset the Owls' early tempo and they were 2-0 up within 60 seconds of the substitution. Teale delivered a teasing cross from the left which dropped over the Hartlepool defence and Mellor nipped in unmarked to pounce.

United, who conceded five at home in the League One encounter earlier in the season, could have been forgiven for fearing a repeat drubbing.

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Owls goalkeeper Nicky Weaver had to be alert to pluck out Joe Gamble's cross from under his crossbar but could not do anything to prevent Fabian Yantorno's 25-yard effort finding the net.

And Hartlepool should have restored parity in first-half stoppage time, but an outstretched Armann Bjornsson was unable to divert the ball home after finding himself unmarked in the goalmouth.

Irvine was forced into another defensive reshuffle at half-time with Purse failing to appear for the second half, forcing winger Chris Sedgwick to drop into the back four.

Mellor completed his hat-trick straight after the restart, after being hauled down in the area by Gary Liddle, and getting up to power home the penalty for his ninth goal of the season.

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Teale then joined in the scoring, pouncing on Andy Monkhouse's short back-pass to lob Kean.

The visitors were forced to throw men forward, exploiting the makeshift home defence, Weaver coming out to block Yantorno before Bjornsson headed wide. The Owls goalkeeper then produced an impressive double save, neither Monkhouse or Sweeney able to get the better of the veteran stopper.

Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver, Otsemobor (Beevers 26), Purse (Sedgwick 46), Buxton, Spurr, Teale, O'Connor, Miller, Coke, Morrison, Mellor (Tudgay 79). Unused substitutes: Jameson, Heffernan.

Hartlepool United: Kean, Austin, Collins, Horwood, Liddle, Yantorno (McSweeney 62), Gamble, Sweeney, Murray (Hartley 52), Monkhouse, Bjornsson (Poole 62). Unused substitutes: Nicholls, Haslam.

Referee: D Deadman.