Wednesday take the spoils in South Yorkshire derby
Sheffield Wednesday made it 4 points from 2 games in League One this season as they enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Hillsborough.
With fans returning to Hillsborough to see league football for the first time since February 2020, a crowd of close to 25,000 turned up to see Darren Moore’s new look Wednesday team take on his former employers.
Moore made two changes from the side that drew at Charlton on the opening day of the season with Marvin Johnson coming in for Jaden Brown on the left side of the attack and Kamberi replacing the injured Paterson up top.
Wednesday started on the front foot as they kicked towards the away end in the first half, forcing a couple of early corners but nothing much to threaten the Rovers goal, Iorfa stabbing a shot tamely at the keeper perhaps the closest effort of the early stages. Doncaster grew into the game and Gardner went close with a curling strike from the edge of the penalty area that whistled just wide.
Just after the half-hour mark a fine pass from Galbraith presented the best chance of the game for the visitors but Cukur could only find the Kop with his shot on the stretch. As the half drew to a close Bannan saw a free-kick go narrowly over the bar while Peacock-Farrell had to make a smart save from Knoyle at his near post.
Having lost their way a little as the first-half went on, Wednesday came out with more intent in the second half and Wing saw a rasping strike tipped over the bar by Dahlberg in the Doncaster goal. Quick-thinking by Wing from a free-kick set Green clear cutting in from the right but a combination of goalkeeper and defender managed to smother his shot. On the hour mark Johnson crossed from the by-line for Kamberi but the striker couldn’t keep his header down with the goal seemingly at his mercy. Kamberi and Johnson were then replaced by Gregory and Brown as the Owls continued to press for the opening goal. Gregory looked lively in leading the line and with 20 minutes to go the home side found a breakthrough in spectacular fashion.
Byers found Bannan in space 25 yards out and the playmaker curled a fine shot away from Dahlberg and into the back of the net to the delight of the Hillsborough faithful. Having finally found a breakthrough Wednesday took just 3 minutes to double their lead. Hunt cut across the middle of the park and released Palmer, he set Brown free down the left and his cut back was parried by Dahlberg into the path of Adeniran who did well to adjust his body enough to steer a first time shot in off the post.
Wednesday did enough to keep Rovers at bay for the next 15 minutes but it looked as though the visitors would give themselves a lifeline with a couple of minutes left when a deflected shot was adjudged to have hit an Owls arm and a penalty was awarded. Substitute Bogle stepped up but his spot kick could only find the base of the post with Peacock-Farrell going close to getting a touch, the rebound was fired wide and Wednesday were able to cruise through stoppage time and take the points.
Next up for the Owls is a home game against Fleetwod Town on Tuesday evening.