Bristol City 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2 - Well-travelled Owls leading way in Championship

A pub quiz question to find the most prolific away team in the Championship might get some scratching their heads.
Connor Wickham celebrates his goal. Pictures: Steve EllisConnor Wickham celebrates his goal. Pictures: Steve Ellis
Connor Wickham celebrates his goal. Pictures: Steve Ellis

But you can forget any team in the top half of the table - it’s not top two Leeds United or West Brom.

But Sheffield Wednesday, who have scored 32 goals in 20 games on their travels this campaign

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Connor Wickham’s first-half header at Ashton Gate was the 31st goal the Owls have netted on the road.

Connor Wickham goal.Connor Wickham goal.
Connor Wickham goal.

Top-four pair Leeds and Brentford have both netted 30, so it’s somewhat of a surprise to find Wednesday - who started the day in 15th spot - leading the way.

It’s in stark contrast to their home form at Hillsborough, where Garry Monk’s team have netted just 17 in 19 games.

The Owls - unchanged from the side which drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest after the restart - started well, as both sides looked to attack from the start.

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Employing three centre-backs, with wingers Kadeem Harris and Jacob Murphy tasked with defensive duties as wing-backs, Wednesday had a couple of early scares.

Massimo Luongo celebrates his second-half goal.Massimo Luongo celebrates his second-half goal.
Massimo Luongo celebrates his second-half goal.

Dominic Iorfa produced a late tackle to pinch the ball from Nahki Wells, before Joe Wildsmith - the goalkeeper who made his first league start since April 2018 last week - produced a stunning one-handed save.

Nathan Baker looked certain to score as he headed goalwards three yards out, at the back post, but Wildsmith somehow managed to palm the ball upwards and over the crossbar.

If Baker felt unlucky, he was fuming at Wednesday’s opening goal.

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The City defender lost sight of Wickham from a Murphy corner, and the on-loan striker was left unmarked to head home.

And the Owls could have gone 2-0 ahead just before the interval, but Jordan Rhodes - whose only goals this season came in a first-half hat-trick at Forest - was thwarted at the near post, after good work from Murphy down the right flank.

Liam Palmer denied Wells - who looked certain to score - with a covering block at the start of the second-half, but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to deliver the second goal.

Both Harris and Murphy cut inside from either flank to shoot from long range, the latter denied by a save from Niki Maenpaa.

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When Wednesday did net a second, once again it came from a corner, Massimo Luongo tapping in after a goalmouth scramble.

The Australian then set-up Wickham, but the on-loan Crystal Palace forward side-footed wide with the goal at his mercy.

City pulled a goal back on 69 minutes. Wildsmith, again, produced a great save to keep out Baker’s header, but Wells reacted quickest to net from close-range.

Substitute Zak Vyner prodded wide as the hosts chased an equaliser but Wednesday held on for just their third win in 16 Championship games.

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