Sheffield Wednesday 0 Wigan 3: Repeat show fails to offer alternative ending for Owls

REST assured, Sheffield Wednesday’s supporters will not be consulting the record books fondly to recall their first-ever completed league clash against Wigan with any particular affection.
Sheffield Wednesday's Jose Semedo lies injured during last night's game.Sheffield Wednesday's Jose Semedo lies injured during last night's game.
Sheffield Wednesday's Jose Semedo lies injured during last night's game.

While the original abandoned fixture on December 18 will be remembered by club statisticians as one of just 13 matches involving the Owls which have failed to finish in competitive peace-time football, last night’s instalment was destined for the small print.

Sadly, the only lasting memory for many Wednesdayites will not be the relinquishing of their 11-match unbeaten streak, but a serious-looking ankle injury to Jose Semedo, who was stretchered off in the second half after a six-minute delay and later taken to hospital.

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On the pitch, despite a bright enough start, the stuffing was knocked out of the hosts by virtue of two goals inside seven first-half minutes from Nicky Maynard, with substitute Marc Antoine-Fortune adding a late third.

Granted, given the choice of victory last night and booking their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at Charlton’s expense on Saturday, many Wednesdayites may have chosen the latter.

But when you are enjoying such a rich seam of results, it’s easy to get greedy. Unfortunately the smiles last night belonged to Wigan’s fans, replacing the frowns their faithful had when the first clash was called off with an hour gone with their side 1-0 up and wiping the floor with the hosts in rain-ravaged conditions.

They didn’t exactly take Wednesday to the cleaners this time around and hand them a footballing lesson, but they were good value for victory at S6, albeit in a slightly flattering victory as Stuart Gray’s side’s early New Year momentum was halted in front of a season-best home crowd of 25,279.

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Many took advantage of a cut-price ticket offer to attend a rescheduled game which Gray labelled a bonus after admitting his side were second-best to Wigan in the postponed encounter.

Just under two months on from being humbled for an hour by Wigan, the confidence which Wednesday demonstrably lacked that day was visibly apparent early on, backed by a home crowd who have warmed to their efforts under Gray.

It was a measure of the Owls new-found swagger that their first opportunity was a somewhat audacious one with a free-kick inside his own half from Miguel Llera drifting just wide with goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi stranded out of his goal.

The Latics’ first serious attacking move ended in a tame shot from James McClean – who netted the only goal in the abandoned game – after he profited from a Liam Palmer error, but for the first half-hour, it was Gray’s side who looked most likely, without cashing in. The recalled Atdhe Nuhiu shot weakly at Al-Habsi after dispossessing Leon Barnett before Benik Afobe evaded Boyce, only to lose his footing as he homed in on goal.

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The visitors duly rubbed salt into the wounds by taking the lead soon after on 31 minutes when Martyn Waghorn slipped in Maynard and he drilled the ball home low past Chris Kirkland after a slick attacking move.

On 38 minutes, the Owls were facing their sternest examination during Stuart Gray’s tenure when the visitors doubled their money courtesy of the same combination. Waghorn’s wickedly delivered right-wing corner flew across goal towards the far post with Maynard, right on the goalline, getting the final touch.

It left Wednesday facing a mountain to climb and while they had their moments after the restart and didn’t lack in commitment, the task was too arduous.

Straightaway after entering the fray on 55 minutes, Jeremy Helan – who came on along with Michail Antonio – saw his cross-shot acrobatically tipped over by Al-Habsi before Llera headed over.

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A lengthy stoppage for the injury to Semedo, who went down in a heap after making a full-stretch challenge in midfield, then ensued and despite their best efforts to reduce the arrears, the Owls couldn’t find a way past Al-Habsi.

Nuhiu headed wide and sub Caolan Lavery was off target while, 10 minutes from time, Al-Habsi blocked a searing strike from Chris Maguire, with it clearly not being Wednesday’s night.

To put the lid on a disappointing evening, Wigan provided the gloss with a third in the second of eight minutes of added-on time, courtesy of sub Fortune.

The striker tapped home the rebound after Maynard was denied the matchball following a block by Kirkland.

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After the ecstatic scenes at the end of Wednesday’s previous home clash with Barnsley, Owls fans were afforded no such highs this time around, with attention now switching to Fa Cup matters this weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland; Palmer, Oshilaja, Llera, Mattock; Maghoma (Antonio 55), Semedo (Lavery 65), Lee Maguire; Afobe (Helan 55), Nuhiu. Unused substitutes: Martinez, McCabe, Corry, McPhail.

Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi; Perch, Boyce, Barnett, Beausejour; McArthur (Kiernan 89), Watson, McCann; Waghorn (Crainey 81), Maynard, McClean (Fortune 51). Unused substitutes: Nicholls, Espinoza, Gomez, McManaman.

Referee: D Webb (Co.Durham).