Hartlepool 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1: Jones leads by example as Owls end Hartlepool’s proud unbeaten run

“Our two centre-halves and the full-backs alongside them headed everything and got all the second balls and I didn’t really feel in any great alarm and danger,” said Megson after victory against Mick Wadsworth’s side, who had gone nine games without defeat.

“I’ve told the players that anyone who has ever been involved in a good season will at times look back and see the result and maybe not the performance.

“We gave ourselves a good platform to build on, to get the ball down and score one or two more. We did make the opportunities but didn’t take them.”

Benin international Reda Johnson scored the only goal, heading home after a long throw from Ben Marshall in the 33rd minute to the near corner of the six-yard area. It was the defender’s first goal of the season.

Marshall, a constant threat on the flank, could have had a goal but his free-kick from 35 yards was tipped over by goalkeeper Scott Flinders.

Pools had chances, with Antony Sweeney and Nolberto Solano missing the target with headers and substitute Andy Monkhouse hitting the woodwork with a low 20-yard drive .

Hartlepool had delivered a series of high balls into Wednesday’s area but captain Rob Jones dealt with them with a series of headers and blocks.

Monkhouse’s arrival signalled the start of a period of intense pressure on the Owls but they held firm, Megson withdrawing Madine in the 67th minute and switching to a 4-5-1 formation,

Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Humphreys (Poole 71), Solano, Murray (Horwood 46), Liddle, Sweeney, Nish, Boyd (Monkhouse 60). Unused substitutes: Rafferty,Luscombe. Booked: Collins.

Sheffield Wednesday: Bywater, Buxton, Batth, Rob Jones, Reda Johnson, Lines, Semedo, O’Connor (Sedgwick 84), Marshall, McGoldrick (O’Grady 58), Madine (Palmer 67). Unused substitutes: O’Donnell,Reynolds.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Rob Jones.