Wednesday produced an excellent second-half fightback to win 2-1 at Portsmouth tonight and lift us into the top half of the Championship … until Saturday’s games at least.
A super team goal and then a 25-yard worldie from Michael Smith carried us to a deserved victory and into 11th place on 15 points.
A delighted Danny Rohl said Wednesday lost too many second balls in the first half but played with three midfielders after the break and had more control.
He added: “The second half display from us was outstanding and we scored two fantastic goals.”
We had two good chances in the first 20 minutes, the first coming when Smith’s excellent flick at the far post found Liam Palmer but his shot from inside the box was deflected over the bar by defender Connor Ogilvie.
Five minutes later, Portsmouth failed to clear a low cross from Anthony Musaba, it fell to Smith but he delayed his shot and it was blocked.
James Beadle saved a 25-yard free kick from Callum Lang just after the half hour and it was another Lang free kick that led to Pompey taking the lead just before half-time.
The problems began when Musaba needlessly lost possession near halfway and Di’Shon Bernard fouled Mark O’Mahony as he ran through. Lang’s weak free kick deflected towards goal and Pol Valentin did well to hook it off the line.
However, the reprieve was short-lived, O’Mahony flicking on the resulting corner at the near post and, despite an initial block from Beadle, Ogilvie fired home the loose ball from close range.
Rohl made changes at half time, Wednesday soon upped their game and we were level on 54 minutes. Barry Bannan expertly picked out Smith in the box, he headed down perfectly and Josh Windass finished in style from six yards in front of the ‘sold out’ away end.
With Wednesday dominating, we almost took the lead when Di’Shon Bernard just failed to connect with a fine cross from Bannan.
However, the winning goal came on 70 minutes with a move started by Smith and then finished by the same player with a world-class effort.
The striker flicked on to Windass on the halfway line, picked himself up and ran forward before taking Yan Valery’s pass in his stride to curl a cracking shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.
It was to prove to be the winner although there was a classic added time scare for the Owls when Lang missed with a header from in front of goal.
Beadle, Valentin (Valery 46), Palmer, Bernard, Famewo (Iorfa 28), M Lowe, S Charles, Bannan, Musaba (J Lowe 46), Windass (Ugbo 84), Smith (Paterson 84). Unused subs: P Charles, Johnson, Ingelsson, Gassama.
* Danny Rohl said after the game that Akin Famewo had suffered a muscle injury in the first half, forcing him to be subbed, and said he would have to wait for tests before finding out how long he might be sidelined for.