The demise of SWFC has been greatly exaggerated!

Last updated : 09 August 2008 By C. Morris

There has been a certain air of pessimism around Hillsborough over the summer as astronomical season ticket price increases and a drawn out takeover saga has sapped the feelings of Wednesday fans.

However, the Owls fans who travelled to Hillsborough today, many of whom will have already been in high spirits following Kevin Phillips' late winner for Birmingham against Sheffield United, didn't have long to wait to bee cheered up further.

Two goals on the first four minutes from Tudgay and Sodje put the Owls in the ascendancy against Burnley and although the visitors pulled one back on six minutes through Martin Paterson Wednesday looked dangerous throughout the 1st half and Deon Burton spurned two good headed opportunities to increase the lead.

Wednesday were two goals up again inside 20 minutes however as a fine run and cross-shot from Jermaine Johnson provided Akpo Sodje with a tap in for hi second and Wednesday's third.

The Owls tightened up somewhat in the second half, offering little to the Clarets in view of a way back into the game and all but sealed the win just after the hour mark when good work from substitute Leo Clarke set up Tudgay for his second of the game.

The 4-1 win marked only a 2nd win in the last twelve first-game fixtures for the Owls and given that it took 7 attempts for Wednesday to pick up their first points in he league last season the fans are well with their rights to celebrate this result.

It may only be one win but given the lack of optimism and the problems overt the summer it is good to see the Owls hit the ground running.

Also encouraging was the attendance of close to 24,000, higher than last season's first home game against Wolves.

The big minus to come out of the game was an injury to talisman Akpo Sodje. The front-man pulled up in the first half with a suspected hamstring injury and will have a scan on Sunday; such an injury could rule him out for around a month.