Impotent Owls lose Yorkshire derby

Last updated : 03 November 2010 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday were beaten for the 6th time in 15 League One matches on Tuesday evening as Huddersfield Town ran out 2-0 winners at Hillsborough.

Alan Irvine made three changes to the side that started the weekend defeat at Charlton with skipper Darren Purse returning to the heart of the defence after suspension in place of Tommy Spurr. Jermaine Johnson made his first start of the season and Chris Sedgwick also returned in wide midfield. Tommy Miller didn’t make the squad after failing to recover from a slight knock that he picked up in Saturday’s match.

Huddersfield came to Hillsborough without striker Alan Lee as he started a suspension following his dismissal at the weekend and so on-loan Nottingham Forest striker Joe Garner came into the starting line-up.

The visitors made the better start but failed to test Nicky Weaver in the opening exchanges and the Owls twice went close a little after ten minutes in as they began to get a foothold in the game.  Jermaine Johnson’s deflected effort fell the wrong side of the post before Tudgay headed over from a Potter free-kick.  Huddersfield almost took the lead on 18 minutes when Rhodes crashed a strike against the woodwork but they wouldn’t have to wait too much longer to get their noses in front.

Midway through the half Purse picked up yet another yellow card for a foul on Garner and from 25 yards out Town winger Graham Carey beat Weaver with a well struck curling free-kick.  Wednesday tried to hit back and Johnson was looking the most likely, the Jamaican winger made a direct run towards goal just after the half-hour mark but his strike was kept out by Bennett in the visitors goal.

The Owls had taken the game to the Terriers after falling behind but were dealt a hammer blow 10 minutes before half-time when Huddersfield relieved the pressure by doubling their lead. A sloppy pass from Purse was seized upon by Gudjonsson and a move involving Rhodes and Garner ended with midfielder Pilkington cutting inside and scoring with a low left-foot strike giving Weaver no chance. Huddersfield could have put the game out of sight before half-time but Rhodes fired wide much to relief of the beleaguered home side.

Tudgay and Potter were withdrawn at the interval to be replaced by Morrison and O’Connor and the Owls started the 2nd half purposefully, Johnson pulling an effort across goal and O’Connor firing tamely at Bennett.  Johnson drilled another attempt wide just after the hour mark and Mellor had a shot blocked when well placed shortly after but the spirited opening to the second period ultimately came to nothing and the visitors managed to keep Wednesday at largely at bay thereafter.

Teale replaced Sedgwick for the final 15 minutes as Mellor and Purse missed the target as the game went into the last 10 minutes. Having made 3 substitutions the Owls were forced to see out the last knockings with 10 men when Johnson limped off and Rhodes almost put the icing on the cake for Town but was denied by a good save from Weaver.

Victory for Huddersfield sees them stay in 2nd place in League One as the Owls drop to 10th place in the table, 3 points off a play-off spot. The Owls have lost as many matches as they have won in the league and have failed to score in 6 of their 15 league games. Only 3 teams in League One have scored less than the 17 that Wednesday have managed to date and the Owls are the lowest scorers on home soil, managing just 5 goals in 8 league games at Hillsborough.