Wednesday chalked up a 12th successive Championship defeat, going down 3-1 to play-off chasing Southampton at Hillsborough this afternoon.

We found ourselves two-down at half time after another one-sided first half that saw the Owls showing a distinct lack of energy or intensity and leading to us once again failing to get an effort on target.

However, we began the second half in more competitive mood and pulled a goal back but failed to build on this improved period and it was the visitors who got the fourth and final goal of the game to complete their victory.

Keeper Seny Dieng came to the rescue after just seven minutes when he denied Cyle Larin but the Saints took the lead 10 minutes later when we failed to clear a cross into the box and James Bree drove home from close in, via the legs of Dieng.

An off target long-range effort from Charlie McNeill was all we had to show attacking-wise in the first 45 and it was 2-0 in added time when Ryan Manning curled a 20-yard free kick through the wall and into the corner of the Kop net.

Rather like our performance in last Sunday’s derby defeat, we then had our best spell of the game early in the second period and were rewarded with a goal on 57 minutes.

Southampton cleared Svante Ingelsson’s corner to the edge of the box, Liam Palmer headed towards goal, Jamal Lowe flicked on and Jerry Yates stooped to nod home from inside the six-yard box for his first goal for the club.

With confidence rising and the crowd behind the team, we threatened an equaliser when Yates set up Lowe on the edge of the box and the latter’s low shot brought a diving save out of keeper Daniel Peretz.

However, we were unable to fully capitalise on this period of play and Southampton restored their two-goal lead on 71 minutes.

The Saints won a corner after another Manning free kick deflected off Lowe, Wednesday failed to clear the set piece when it came into the box and Taylor Harwood-Bellis was able to hook home from six yards.

Added time saw us close to a second goal, keeper Peretz pushing out Palmer’s snapshot and Yates miscuing from the loose ball.

Dieng, Fusire (Grainger 90), Palmer, Iorfa (Emery 79), Otegbayo (Thornton 46), Adaramola, Ingelsson, Chalobah, McNeill, J Lowe (Ndala 79), Yates. Unused subs: Stretch, Nakamba, Johnson, McGhee, Moses.