6 and easy for Owls in Yorkshire derby

Last updated : 12 January 2014 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed their biggest victory of the season by some margin on Saturday as they beat Yorkshire rivals Leeds United 6-0 at Hillsborough.

The Sky TV cameras were in town for the live lunchtime kick-off and it turned into an embarrassing afternoon for the visitors.

Wednesday dominated their opponents from start to finish and the result has moved them away from the bottom 3 in the Championship.

The Owls took the lead on 20 minutes when a free kick was cleared to Kieran Lee on the edge of the area and with the crowd encouraging him to shoot he instead played a deft chipped ball into Reda Johnson who controlled and calmly slotted past Paddy Kenny.

The home side doubled their lead shortly before half-time when Lee again provided the ammunition for Nuhiu to slide home from close range.

Liam Palmer went close to adding a third on the half-time whistle, firing into the side netting when well placed after more fine set up play from Lee.

Leeds introduced striker Matt Smith at the break in the hope of getting back into the game but the striker lasted less than a minute. Smith produced a crude shoulder challenge aimed at the head of Reda Johnson after the Owls defender had headed the ball away and the referee had no option but to produce a red card.

Wednesday had previously struggled against Yeovil this season when the visitors were reduced to ten men at Hillsborough but there was to be no repeat on this occasion as the Owls put their near neighbours to the sword.

In form on-loan Sunderland striker Connor Wickham made it 3-0 within a few minutes of Smith's dismissal, firing a low drive past Kenny after a neat link up with Maghoma.

The 4th goal was a little lucky, Maguire's free kick deflecting off the wall to give Kenny no chance but the score was a clear reflection of Wednesday's superiority.

Caolan Lavery, recalled from a loan spell at Plymouth came off the bench and put the icing on the cake with his first Wednesday goals. With ten minutes left he picked up the ball near the halfway line and advanced into the area to fire a low strike in off the post and then in injury time the youngster took advantage of some sloppy defending to pick up the ball on the edge of the penalty area to curl a sweet shot home in front of the Kop.

Leeds were all too happy to hear the final whistle as they had hardly mustered a shot in anger and in truth the Owls could have had more. Jermaine Johnson hit a post and Wickham and Maghoma both passed up other presentable opportunities on a day to remember for Wednesday.