Wednesday’s survival hopes took a hefty blow at Middlesbrough this afternoon … both in the result and the manner of the 2-0 defeat.
We lacked the commitment, urgency and fight needed in our relegation battle and, while we are still only two points from safety (three really because of our shocking goal difference), next Saturday’s trip to QPR now looks like a definite ‘must-win’ to have any chance of staying up.
We began well – for the first five minutes at least – and had our best chance of the game when Will Vaulks sent Marvin Johnson clear but his angled effort was inches off target.
After that, it was just about all downhill as Middlesbrough soon took total control of the game while the Owls showed no appetite to compete for the points.
Sam Greenwood sent a free kick just over the bar from 20 yards and Isaiah Jones missed a great chance when he shot over from close range before the home side took the lead shortly before half time, Wednesday failing to clear a Boro corner and the ball going in off Michael Ihiekwe.
Any hopes of a second-half revival never materialised, with Middlesbrough pressing from the restart and James Beadle saving from Latte Lath.
The keeper was in action again to deny a long-ranger from Greenwood and Boro eventually doubled their lead 17 minutes from time when Jones’ angled shot deflected off Barry Bannan, looping over Beadle and into the far corner of the net.
Greenwood could have made it three soon afterwards but saw his penalty come back off the post after Bannan had handled in the area.
At the other end, our only reply was a drive from Ike Ugbo that was pushed away by Senny Dieng in an all-round shocking display from Wednesday.
Beadle, Valentin (Poveda 61), Ihiekwe, B Diaby (Iorfa 61), Famewe, Johnson, Vaulks (Hendrick 76), Bannan, Musaba, Cadamarteri (Gassama 46), Ugbo (Smith 76). Unused subs: Dawson, Palmer, James, Fletcher.