Sheffield Wednesday produced a below par display at Hillsborough but it was just enough to see of the spirited challenge of lowly Leyton Orient.
As was expected Alan Irvine made a number of changes to the side that beat Chesterfield on penalties in midweek. Spurr, Otsemobor, Miller, O’Connor and Tudgay all returned to the starting 11. Mark Beevers and Giles Coke were kept out of the side due to knock picked up in the match on Wednesday evening and so in the absence of Beevers, Lewis Buxton reverted to centre-back.
The home side made a decent enough start to the game without really threatening goal and it was Orient who went closest to taking the lead in the first 10 minutes as Weaver acrobatically tipped Revell’s header over the bar. Wednesday responded through Teale as the winger tested O’s goalkeeper Lee Butcher but it was the visitors who continued to fashion the best chances. Dean Cox fired over from a good position and the midfielder was denied by Purse as his goal bound effort beat Weaver but was cleared off the line. Wednesday had lost their way as the half wore on and sections of the Hillsborough crowd showed their displeasure when the whistle blew to end the first 45 minutes.
A more up beat start to the second half saw Potter burst into the penalty area after playing a neat one two with Tudgay but his centre was blocked at the expense of a corner. Wednesday were not to be denied however and from the resulting set piece, taken by Teale, Buxton leapt highest at the back post to head the Owls into the lead on 52 minutes.
Orient went close to an equaliser within minutes as defender Forbes’ header was kept out by a tidy save from Weaver and Wednesday eventually scrambled the ball clear. The Owls keeper was then forced to parry a free kick from Chorley back into the danger area but Wednesday reacted quickly to clear the danger.
Marcus Tudgay went close to doubling the Owls advantage when shooting narrowly wide across goal following a neat touch by Morrison but Wednesday then appeared to adopt a more cautious approach going into the final 20 minutes with Tudgay taking up a position out wide and Miller coming into the middle.
That left just Morrison and latterly his replacement Mellor up top on their own and was, in a way, recognition of the stern test provided by the Londoners. However, despite all their efforts the O’s were unable to fashion a late chance to salvage anything from the game and will have undoubtedly have been disappointed to leave Hillsborough empty handed.
Given his goal scoring display when playing in a wide position in the 2-0 win at Notts County last weekend it was something of a surprise to see Marcus Tudgay move back up front for this game and with Coke ruled out in the centre of the park many would have expected Miller to move into his preferred position in the middle.
The solid display of the much maligned Buxton at centre half was one of the major plus points of the day and the fact that the Owls managed to collect three points when not playing anywhere near the level that they are capable of also has to be seen as a positive. Saturday’s victory saw the Owls rise to 5th place in League One but Irvine will know that his team must produce more if they are to maintain or improve on this.
Earlier in the day the draw for the next round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy took place with Wednesday landing a third consecutive home tie. The Owls will face fellow League One side Hartlepool at Hillsborough in the week commencing 8th November.