Sheffield Wednesday 0 Huddersfield Town 2: Ruthless Town add to concern consuming Owls' fans

Defeat to local rivals Huddersfield Town sparked an angry chorus of boos from those Sheffield Wednesday supporters who actually stayed until the final whistle.

The result compounded news that a proposed takeover involving Kevin Mundie of Dubai-based Certified Oilfield Rentals may now be on the brink of collapse.

For Town, however, this was a night to savour as goals from Graham Carey and Anthony Pilkington kept the club second in the League One table.

Manager Lee Clark led his side's celebrations at the end but opposite number Alan Irvine disappeared quickly down the tunnel.

Although his side had lost only one of their previous seven games, results at home have simply not been good enough so far for those demanding an immediate return to the Championship.

Only one of the last seven at Hillsborough has ended in a home win, with the exception of a penalty shoot-out win over Chesterfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Regardless of the problems off the field, questions are starting to be asked of Irvine's managerial style.

Unable to prevent relegation last season, the Scot will be hoping that the club's takeover saga is resolved sooner rather than later. Until it is, the threat of administration also remains in the air.

England Under-19 international Benik Afobe started on the bench for Town after signing a one-month loan deal from Arsenal. With Alan Lee suspended for three games and Lee Novak sidelined for six weeks with a torn hamstring, Afobe had been drafted in to provide cover for strikers Jordan Rhodes and Joel Garner.

Irvine recalled captain Darren Purse after suspension and dropped Tommy Spurr to the bench.

Winger Jermaine Johnson started for the first time this season

after injury and there was a recall for Chris Sedgwick, with Gary Teale on the bench and Tommy Miller injured.

Hundreds of supporters missed the start of the game due to traffic congestion caused by heavy rain and flash flooding.

But there was still a cracking atmosphere for a clash between Yorkshire rivals who have become relative strangers over the years. Since 1959, the Owls and the Terriers have competed at the same level only five times.

Johnson could have given the Owls an early lead but his 25-yard shot deflected narrowly wide off Town captain Peter Clarke. Striker Rhodes then struck the woodwork for Town with an angled drive.

The Owls fell behind on 23 minutes after Purse was booked for a challenge on Rhodes on the edge of the box. Midfielder Graham Carey, on a season-long loan from Celtic, curled the free-kick beautifully over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Home fans began to voice frustration as the Owls struggled for fluidity and committed individual mistakes – especially in the delivery of set-pieces.

When Anthony Pilkington doubled Town's lead in the 34th minute, the jeers reached levels previously unheard during Irvine's 10-month reign. Pilkington scored his seventh goal in just six games with a carefully placed shot over goalkeeper Weaver, taking advantage of loose marking by the Owls.

Town's lead might have been even greater by half-time as Rhodes flashed a shot across the goalline. The only bright note for the Owls at that stage was the threat offered by Johnson so it was no surprise that Irvine should make changes at the start of the second half; James O'Connor and Clinton Morrison replacing the ineffective Darren Potter and Marcus Tudgay.

The switch helped the Owls get a foothold in the contest and Town were finally subjected to a spell of intense pressure. Goalkeeper Bennett saved a shot from O'Connor and Town's Antony Kay only just managed to turn a cross from Johnson wide of his own net.

Purse wasted a great opportunity when unmarked at a free-kick.

Town's new signing Afobe got his first taste of senior football with just under half an hour to play and nearly capped his debut with a goal.

The Owls' second half display was a slight improvement but Town never seriously looked in danger of losing their way.

Johnson went off before the end with a hamstring injury which could sideline him for several weeks. These are worrying times for Wednesday but the future is looking bright for their Yorkshire rivals.

Sheffield Wednesday: Weaver; Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Jones; Johnson, Potter (O'Connor 45), Coke, Sedgwick (Teale 75); Tudgay (Morrison 45), Mellor. Unused substitutes: Jameson, Spurr, Hinds, Heffernan.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Peltier, Kay, P.Clarke, Ridehalgh; Pilkington, Johnson, Gudjonsson, Carey (Arfield 71); Garner (Afobe 64), Rhodes. Unused substitutes: Colgan, N.Clarke, McCombe, Croft, Atkinson.

Referee: P Crossley (Kent).

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