Sheffield Wednesday 3 Exeter City 0: Madine unstoppable after striker heeds advice from Megson

The former Carlisle United striker netted a brace for the third successive home game as Wednesday beat Exeter to chalk up a sixth successive Hillsborough triumph.

The 21-year-old is League One’s top scorer and reaping the rewards of a pep talk last month from manager Gary Megson, who told his centre forward to be more selfish in front of goal.

“Gary Madine was terrific,” enthused Megson. “He can be anything he wants to be and the only thing that will stop him is himself.

“His running off the ball was first-class and so was his work-rate, which is much higher than the first three games of the season and he is getting his rewards.”

The Owls struggled in the opening half hour, partly due to a dogged defensive display from the visitors and whistle-happy referee Darren Drysdale.

Daniel Nardello had a glorious chance to put City in front but failed to get on the end of Matthew Whichelow’s low cross.

Exeter were punished by two Owls goals in four minutes. Rob Jones’s header was not cleared and James O’Connor forced the ball home from close-range.

Then Madine nodded in from a similar distance after Ben Marshall nipped in after a defensive mix-up.

The result was never in doubt yet the Owls only had Madine’s penalty to add to their tally after he had been brought down.

The second-half appearance of fit-again Chris O’Grady and Ryan Lowe means Megson has four strikers at his disposal, including loan forward David McGoldrick.

Clinton Morrison has joined MK Dons on an emergency loan.

Sheffield Wednesday: Bywater, Buxton, Jones, Batth, R Johnson, Marshall (Palmer 89), O’Connor, Semedo, Lines, McGoldrick (O’Grady 73), Madine (Lowe 88). Unused substitutes: O’Donnell, Bennett

Exeter City: Krysiak, Tully, Dunne, Archibald-Henville (O’Flynn 76), Duffy, Noble, Nardiello, Golbourne, Coles, Taylor (Bennett 76), Whichelow (Buaza 58). Unused substitutes: Pidgeley, Jones.

Referee: D Drysdale (Cambs).

Man of the match: Gary Madine.