Millwall 1 Sheff Weds 3: McGugan sets Owls on road to victory

Sheffield Wednesday ended their seven-match winless streak to pile the pressure on struggling Millwall.
Lewis McGugan scored the first of Sheffield Wednesday's three goals at Millwall last night (Picture: Steve Ellis).Lewis McGugan scored the first of Sheffield Wednesday's three goals at Millwall last night (Picture: Steve Ellis).
Lewis McGugan scored the first of Sheffield Wednesday's three goals at Millwall last night (Picture: Steve Ellis).

It was only the second time this season the Owls had scored more the two goals in a Championship match as strikes from Lewis McGugan, Atdhe Nuhiu and Stevie May left the Lions rooted in the bottom three.

Millwall have not won a home game since October, a run stretching back 11 matches, and are still three points from safety.

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Yet they had plenty of chances to take the lead with Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Aiden O’Brien denied by goal-line clearances, the latter just moments before McGugan’s opener.

They promptly capitulated with Nuhiu and May wrapping up Wednesday’s first win in eight games before Diego Fabbrini hit a late consolation.

Millwall should have gone ahead when Fabbrini lost his boot but still managed to thread the ball to Lee Gregory in the Wednesday box.

Chris Kirkland, making his first league start of the season in place of the suspended Kieran Westwood, blocked Gregory’s effort but the loose ball fell to Taylor-Fletcher.

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The former Owls striker was off balance as he prodded the ball forward but it still looked destined for the net until Liam Palmer stuck out a leg and hooked it off the line.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 52nd minute when Gregory chipped the ball across goal towards substitute O’Brien.

The young winger looked certain to score as he threw his head towards the ball, only this time Tom Lees was on hand to make another vital clearance from underneath the crossbar.

Wednesday immediately broke to the other end where McGugan coolly slotted home from 15 yards.

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The goal knocked the stuffing out of Millwall and they were carved wide open when Nuhiu tapped in the second after a fine run and cross from Jacques Maghoma.

Maghoma set up the third for substitute May, who slid the ball through the legs of Lions goalkeeper David Forde.

Fabbrini pulled one back in stoppage time.

Millwall: Forde, Abdou (Gueye 74), Dunne, Hooiveld, Harding, Fabbrini, Williams, Tonge, Woolford (O’Brien 50), Taylor-Fletcher, Gregory (Fuller 63). Unused substitutes: Upson, Beevers, Nelson, King.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Palmer, Lees, Zayatte, Dielna, Lee, Semedo, McGugan (Hutchinson 74), Maghoma (Helan 90), Keane (May 80), Nuhiu. Unused substitutes: Mattock, Maguire, Wildsmith, Vermijl.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).