Sheffield Wednesday 2 Notts County 1: Madine profits from taking selfish approach for Owls

The 20-year-old has found goals hard to come by since his January switch from Carlisle, netting five from 23 starts before Saturday.

Last season he did a lot of the unheralded donkey work up front, closing down defenders, winning free-kicks and causing problems for opposition defences.

One of those to profit was partner Neil Mellor, but with last season’s 20-goal loan striker having returned to Preston North End, the responsibilty of leading the Owls’ attack has fallen on the Gateshead-born target man.

Madine had failed to find the net in Wednesday’s opening four games – although he was unlucky to have a ‘goal’ wiped out for offside in the midweek defeat at Bury – but after scoring the Owls’ winner to complete a Hillsborough comeback, both player and manager revealed a pre-match pep talk had paid dividends.

Megson told Madine to stop pulling wide, to become more selfish and get in front of the goal and on the end of crosses.

“I told Gary (Madine) before the game. Maybe I should have told him earlier, when I took over at Bolton. I think the best Kevin Davies had ever done was score seven goals in a season,” said Megson, who spent two years in charge at Wanderers.

“He made 73 per cent one season for Bolton, but didn’t score enough himself.

“That season he scored 13. Not being Alf Ramsey, but all we told him was whenever the ball’s coming across go into that area where it’s difficult to miss.

“Right in front of goal, not near, not far, just keep going in there all the time because the ball eventually drops there. If he keeps doing that, he will get goals.”

That tactic worked a treat for Madine, who enabled Owls to triumph after falling behind to a 10th-minute penalty from Jeff Hughes after Chris Lines was penalised for handling.

Left-back Julian Bennett volleyed home a 53rd-minute equaliser before Madine found himself in front of goal to get on the end of man of the match Lewis Buxton’s teasing cross for a 68th-minute winner.

“Gary did well for his goal, it was a tap-in but he showed good anticipation to get into that position,” added Megson, who is hoping to bring in a new striker this week.

Chris O’Grady’s heel injury means the Owls only have two strikers on their books in Madine and Clinton Morrison.

With a Carling Cup second round trip to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday to fit in before a league return to Hillsborough on Saturday, Madine is hoping he can add the goals which his unselfish approach play deserve.

“The manager told me not to get too far beyond the back post, or across the front post, just stay in the middle and that’s where the goals will come,” said Madine. “That’s where my goal came from.

“Fans get on at strikers if they don’t score goals, but they have to look at other things too, like winning free-kicks around the box, which I think I win my fair share of. Things like running and chasing into corners, you are makings goals for other people.

“It was good to get my first goal of the season, it came from a great ball from Lewis Buxton, straight across the six-yard box.

“As a striker it’s the position where I want to be, but haven’t been getting there enough, to be fair. Hopefully, that’s the start of many.

“It’s been hard but you have just got to keep plugging away and the goals will come. I felt a little bit sorry for Clinton (Morrison), he’s been running his socks off. I am sure he will get a goal soon.

“You feel the pressure, there’s a lot of fans who pay good money and have an opinion.

“If you don’t play well they are going to boo you, which is fair enough. I think if we can get a goal first in a game, and get them all behind us, it will be like a 12th man, 13th even, as they are so loud.”

Victory was important for Wednesday after two disappointing defeats at Bournemouth and Bury, with Buxton at the heart of an improved Owls display.

Taking over as captain from the injured Rob Jones, the left-back made numerous charging runs down the flank which resulted in a succession of inviting crosses which should have been gobbled up.

On the other flank, debutant Ben Marshall – on loan from Stoke City – looks a quality addition and gives the Owls added creativity in midfield.

Ten-man County – Neal Bishop was sent off after picking up two bookings on 78 minutes – rallied late on, but Wednesday defended with purpose and will travel to Ewood Park in good spirits as Madine looks to celebrate his 21st birthday in style with a Carling Cup upset.