Sheffield Wednesday 3 MK Dons 1: Madine coming of age as Owls striker stakes claim to Megson

Until a few weeks ago, the only thing Gary Madine had in common with the England and Liverpool striker Carroll was a Gateshead accent, long legs and a few unwanted headlines.

Yet now, after bagging five goals in his last five starts, Madine has emerged as a ‘contender’ again – and is making the headlines for all the right reasons

The Sheffield Wednesday striker even celebrated his 21st birthday last month so, who knows, maybe coming of age has struck an important chord in his brain.

He is certainly showing an improvement in his game that Owls manager Gary Megson would have preferred to see before splashing out on new strikers Chris O’Grady and Ryan Lowe.

Ironically, the pair are both injured, so Madine’s security in the Owls team has not yet been put to the test.

However, if the 6ft3in striker maintains the sort of form that ended the unbeaten record of MK Dons, Megson will be either brave or foolish to pull him out of the side.

“The way I am playing, I definitely would not be happy if the manager dropped me, and I would tell him so,” said Madine.

“There were a few people questioning me at the start of the season but I am still learning and I am confident I can score goals for this team.”

It was Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark, another native of the north-east, who first compared Madine to Carroll last season.

His initial impact at Hillsborough was not sensational but now, with the service around him improving, he is starting to shine.

The Owls took time to get to grips with the MK Dons, who started Saturday afternoon as League One leaders. By 4.45pm, however, they had muscled their way to a valuable three points and shown that power can sometimes overcome finesse in the promotion race.

Things started to turn Wednesday’s way once the visitors lost midfielder Stephen Gleeson midway through the first half as a result of a heavy tackle by Julian Bennett.

And just before the break, Owls winger Jermaine Johnson put his studs down the shin of former team-mate Darren Potter.

Referee Phil Gibbs kept his cards in his pocket both times – yet later sent off MK Dons striker Jabo Ibehre in stoppage time for a minor brush with Owls goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell.

Dons manager Karl Robinson was less than impressed, saying: “The tackle on Stephen Gleeson was above the knee, the tackle on Darren Potter was as bad as you will see in the Football League this weekend. Those tackles could have broken legs.”

Johnson, who had been starting for the first time since a knee operation in the summer, was substituted at half-time. His performance had been woeful but Megson later took responsibility for this by saying he should not have been rushed back into the side.

With first-choice goalkeeper Nicky Weaver in the States visiting a knee specialist, O’Donnell was looking to stake his claim for a regular place between the posts.

Although MK Dons enjoyed long periods of possession, the Owls stand-in goalkeeper was rarely tested. However, he did produce one fantastic flying save at 2-1 to prevent Dean Bowditch grabbing an equaliser.

Madine broke the deadlock after 54 minutes, rifling home after unselfish work by an equally impressive Clinton Morrison.

His second was the sort of goal a striker of his physique should be scoring on a more regular basis.

Meeting a centre from substitute Liam Palmer, Madine rose imperiously above his marker to crash a header into the roof of the net.

Substitute Angelo Balanta pulled one back for the visitors on 72 minutes and for a moment, the Owls looked uncomfortable.

But O’Donnell’s save followed by Liam Palmer’s first goal in senior football made things safe for the Owls, who can still boast a 100 per cent record at home.

“It was a great result,” said manager Megson, who also defended his team’s more direct approach to the game. “The goals we have scored were terrific and there were times when we played some good stuff. It’s different for us than most teams in this division. We can’t come in and say ‘well, it was 0-0 but didn’t we pass the ball about lovely?’

“We have got to get results. That’s where we start,” he stressed. “We’d like to play as well as we can – but the be all an end all at this club has got to be getting results.”

Neither O’Grady nor Lowe will be available for games this week at Stevenage and Yeovil so Madine and Morrison will continue.

“It doesn’t bother me if we have paid £350,000 for Chris or nothing for Clinton,” said Megson. “The striker who is playing best at the time will play.

“If they are are in the team and delivering what we are looking for, others will have to be patient and wait for the opportunity.

“I tell every player that I bring to this club that if he doesn’t work hard or give it everything, it’s his fault if he’s not in the team. If he does give 100 per cent but isn’t good enough for the team then it’s my fault for signing him.”

Sheffield Wednesday: O’Donnell; Buxton, Batth, Jones, Bennett; J Johnson (Palmer 45), Semedo, Prutton, Marshall (Lines 90); Madine, Morrison (O’Connor 83). Unused substitutes: Jameson, R Johnson.

Milton Keynes Dons: Martin; Smith, Mackenzie, Williams, Lewington; Chadwick (McNamee 88), Potter, Gleeson (Balanta 26); Ibehre, Bowditch, MacDonald (Powell 70). Unused substitutes: McLoughlin, Chicksen.

Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands).