Brighton go top as ragged Owls sink to defeat

Gus Poyet’s in-form side handed Sheffield Wednesday a sound beating after taking a first-half lead through Wayne Bridge’s deflected free-kick.

But there was nothing fortuitous about the way they tore through their opponents at the start of the second half.

Mackail-Smith followed up consecutive braces against Barnsley and Burnley with a simple 54th-minute finish following a jinking run from Spanish full-back Bruno Saltor.

Will Buckley made it three shortly afterwards, with Bruno once again the architect, as Brighton secured a third consecutive win.

On-loan Southampton midfielder Dean Hammond made his second Brighton ‘debut’ in place of hamstring injury victim Andrew Crofts, while Buckley returned from a hip problem to make a first start this season and push Kazenga LuaLua to the substitutes’ bench.

Joe Mattock, who enjoyed a spell at the Amex Stadium last season, came into Wednesday’s defence due to Lewis Buxton’s hamstring strain and QPR loanee Jay Bothroyd was handed a debut in attack, with new recruit Ross Barkley named on the bench.

Buckley forced a sharp stop from Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland at the end of a 15th minute counter-attack he instigated when a pass to the unmarked Mackail-Smith might have been the better option.

The visitors weathered some pressure immediately after this chance but fell behind in the 24th minute.

Bridge initially fainted to strike the dead ball from the edge of the area and, with the Wednesday wall attempting to reorganise, he hit a shot that looped off Rhys McCabe and beyond Kirkland into the far corner.

Bruno unconvincingly cleared McCabe’s cross as Wednesday sought a response – something that looked most likely when the lively Jermaine Johnson was in possession.

Five minutes before half-time, Buckley’s surge at the Owls’ defence forced Mattock to clear his low centre from the goalmouth.

On-loan Everton youngster Barkley was introduced in place of Rodri at the interval as manager Dave Jones sought a spark, only for Brighton to double their lead nine minutes into the second period.

Bruno wormed his way through challenges to get inside the box from the right and his low cross allowed Mackail-Smith to stroke home.

Albion goalkeeper Thomasz Kuszczak was scrambling as a curling Johnson effort flashed narrowly wide – a brief respite before Brighton made the points safe in sumptuous fashion.

Bruno’s lofted diagonal ball caught out Wednesday’s defence and found the rampaging Buckley, whose excellent first touch set up a cool, chipped finish.

It was almost four with an hour gone when Kirkland produced a superb reaction save from Mackail-Smith’s header.

Wednesday belatedly tested Kuszczak inside the last 15 minutes – the first stop displaying his excellent reflexes as he thwarted Bothroyd’s close-range header before Mattock’s stinging drive was touched to safety.

Earlier in the day, the Owls announced the loan signing of Everton teenager Barkley.

The highly rated Premier League youngster joined the Owls on a month-long loan deal to help bolster Jones’s central midfield options with Chris Lines still recovering from a long-term injury.

In his place, former Rangers teenager McCabe has performed admirably but now teenager Barkley can relieve some of his workload with Wednesday embarking on seven games in three weeks before the next international break.

Owls boss Jones said: “We have been chasing Ross for some time and I’m really pleased to have him on board.

“This is as big as the Rodri signing for me because this lad is a real quality player.

“He’s energetic, good in the air and a box-to-box player who can score a goal.”

England Under-21 star Barkley – who will wear the No 24 shirt at Hillsborough – rose rapidly through the academy ranks at Goodison Park and represented the Everton Under-18s while just 15 years old. He is contracted to the Goodison Park club until 2016.

Another new arrival at Hillsborough is the appointment of former Preston director of youth Dean Ramsdale as their new academy chief.

He starts work officially on Monday and succeeds Sean McAuley, who quit in the summer to become assistant head coach at US outfit Portland Timbers.

“Dean has a wealth of experience at this level; he has produced some really good kids,” said Jones.

“Everybody here is really looking forward to working with him.”

The Owls’ recent signing from Preston, winger Danny Mayor, was one of around a dozen young players who came through the youth system to break into the Deepdale first-team squad.

Ramsdale joined the Lilywhites from Burnley in 2006 but left when long-serving player Graham Alexander was put in charge of youth affairs.

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Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge, Hammond, Bridcutt, Dicker, Buckley (Orlandi 77), Mackail-Smith (Dobbie 69), Barnes (David Lopez 82). Unused substitutes: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, LuaLua.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Mattock, Taylor, Llera, Beevers, Antonio, Semedo, McCabe, Jermaine Johnson (Pecnik 64), Bothroyd (Madine 87), Rodri (Barkley 46). Unused substitutes: Bywater, Maguire, O’Grady, Lee.

Referee: N Miller (Durham).

Ross County extended their unbeaten league run to 40 games with a goalless draw at Dundee United in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Victory for either side at Tannadice would have seen them climb to the top of the table.