Sheff Weds 1 Brentford 0: Owls keep out Bees to equal defensive record

Home wins have proved precious commodities for Wednesdayites this season and given the fact that just four had arrived in the Championship since early August prior to last night, home fans were entitled to grasp anything that was on offer.

Somewhat understandably, Stuart Gray was decidedly pragmatic ahead of the game, no doubt mindful of a moribund return of one home success in nine since Boxing Day.

He admitted that a scrappy dog-eared win would do and ventured that 90 per cent of the Owls faithful would be happy with that.

You sense they probably were at the final whistle, with the upwardly-mobile Bees, for the second away game running, left to rue what might have been.

After dominating their clash at Derby in front of the Sky cameras on Saturday, Mark Warburton’s side displayed a blunt attacking sword for the second game running, with Wednesday this time the beneficiaries.

Chances were rare for the hosts, but they crucially took one when it came along on 76 minutes with Kieran Lee firing home.

The victory took Wednesday to 58 points, a tally they have eclipsed just twice during 10 previous seasons at this level since relegation from the top-flight in 1999-2000.

It represents a solid if not exactly spectacular return, with the night at least notable for one substantive landmark.

Namely the Owls equalling their club record number of clean sheets in a season, which stands at 17. After not recording a shut-out for the previous six matches, Gray’s side came good in that respect and also had something tangible to show at the other end.

After the Bees, Bournemouth and Watford now come before season’s end, along with a home derby with Leeds United to fit in, with the Owls at least afforded a timely boost before then against one of the division’s better sides.

It was a first half in keeping with a whole plethora at Hillsborough this term, with the hosts providing plenty of perspiration, but looking devoid of inspiration.

For their part, Brentford, despite having the better of it in the absence of Alex Pritchard, failed to hit the heights of their accomplished weekend showing at Derby, despite bossing the territory.

They did formulate the best chances with Andre Gray going close with a near-post shot after being sent clear on 35 minutes before Alan Judge hit the bar shortly before the break with a crisp strike as the Owls appealed in vain for offside.

At the other end, the Owls, fielding a 4-2-3-1 formation, lacked fluidity and conviction, with the energy of Caolan Lavery and the off-the-cuff talents of Lewis McGugan hinting on one or two occasions, but it was all too fitful.

Lee was denied from close in early on by the underemployed David Button, who did not having a meaningful save to make, with his only one being a routine one to deny McGugan’s relatively tame shot.

Wednesday were soon on the back foot with Gray spurning a golden chance to break the deadlock five minutes after the restart. Toumani Diagouraga found Gray, who cut inside before unleashing a well-struck low shot, which whistled just wide with Kieren Westwood beaten.

It was the prelude to dominance from the Bees, with Stuart Gray making a double change in a bid to wrestle back the initiative with Sergiu Bus and Chris Maguire entering the fray.

It couldn’t conjure the reaction with the Owls increasingly resembling the away side, being forced to rely on isolated breaks, while the Bees gorged on a surfeit of possession.

An indication of the Owls subdued offering was such that it took 64 minutes for them to claim their first corner on a increasingly flat occasion as far as the home fans in the sparse 17,416 crowd were concerned at any rate.

A set-piece or lapse in concentration from the Bees looked the best route for the Owls and a faux pas from Harlee Dean almost provided the chance they were craving on 70 minutes.

Maguire dispossessed him and was momentarily clear, but couldn’t pick out fellow sub Bus with the chance gone. It at least enlivened the crowd a little and their reward arrived 14 minutes from time.

A strong run by Lavery saw his centre latched onto by Bus, whose effort was blocked, with the loose ball falling invitingly in the box to Lee, who tucked the ball home.

Stung into action, the Bees desperately pushed for a leveller with Jota shot’s turned away by Westwood before Judge fired over when well placed.

Bus spurned a chance to make it safe when he blazed over.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood; Buxton, Lees, Zayatte, Helan; Lee, Melo; Lavery, McGugan (Maghoma 74), Isgrove (Maguire 59); May (Bus 59). Unused substitutes: Kirkland, Nuhiu, Vermijl, Kelhar.

Brentford: Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell (Smith 81); Diagouraga (McCormack 81); Jota, Douglas, Judge, Dallas (Toral 65); Gray. Unused substitutes: Bonham, Craig, O’Connell, Udumaga.

Referee: M Brown (East Yorkshire).