Sheffield Wednesday suffered their first defeat of 2014 on Tuesday evening as Wigan ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Stuart Gray handed a debut to on loan Cardiff centre-back Adedeji Oshilaja with Jose Semedo returning to midfield and Atdhe Nuhiu starting up front alongisde Benik Afobe with Chris Maguire out wide.
Both sides started well with some neat passing without making the most decent positions but the Owls should really have had the lead midway through the half. First Nuhiu did well to rob a Wigan defender of possession inside the penalty area but shot tamely into the grasp of visiting keeper Al Habsi. Moments later Afobe latched onto a through ball and was in on goal but declined a great opportunity to shoot with his left foot and cut inside only to stumble and see the opportunity go begging.
Wednesday were made to pay for their wasted chances when Maynard, who had hardly featured in the match, coolly slotted past Kirkland just after the half hour mark. Within 10 minutes the lead was doubled when a corner taken by Waghorn was missed at the near post by Semedo and squirmed in past Kirkland.
Wednesday huffed and puffed in the second half with substitute Helan and Maguire both testing Al Habsi from distance while Antonio and particularly Lavery looked lively but Wigan were able to keep the Owls at arms length and put the icing on the cake in injury time when Fortune reacted quickest to a Maynard shot which was parried by Kirkland to make it 3-0.
To make matters worse for Wednesday their injury problems may well have been added to as Semedo was stretchered off after lengthy treatment during the second half.