Wednesday went back to the top of division one with a 3-0 win over struggling Accrington at Hillsborough this afternoon.
Our first victory in seven games, coupled with defeat for Plymouth at home to Lincoln and a draw for Ipswich at Cheltenham, sees us go a point clear of the Pilgrims and two ahead of the Tractor Boys, although they both have a game in hand on the Owls.
It was an all-round improved display from Wednesday compared to recent weeks, albeit against poor opposition, and hopefully this much-needed success will act as a confidence-booster with the battle for the automatic promotion entering the closing stages.
Wednesday started brightly and soon went close when keeper Lukas Jensen blocked Lee Gregory’s effort inside the box, with the striker probably feeling he could have done better.
However, we did break the deadlock on 11 minutes when Mallik Wilks nodded back at the far post from Marvin Johnson’s cross and Dennis Adeniran was on hand to volley home from 12 yards as Accrington failed to clear.
Reece James sent a header across goal and wide from Barry Bannan’s free kick while Accrington’s only real threat of the first half came when Sean McConville clipped the top of the bar with a 20-yard free kick.
Callum Paterson returned to action for the start of the second half after his long lay-off and played a big part in us doubling our lead just a minute after the restart.
He got his head to Bannan’s corner and when the ball dropped in the six-yard box, Adeniran was there to turn and hook high into the net.
Gregory headed wide from a Johnson cross as we looked to increase our lead and then Tyreeq Bakinson brought a diving save from Jensen with a curler towards the far corner.
Accrington continued to pose few problems and we completed the win with 18 minutes left, Bannan’s excellent first-time pass finding Liam Palmer and he ran through into the box to slot the ball past Jensen and take us back to the head of the table.
Dawson, Palmer, Flint, Famewo, Johnson, Vaulks, Adeniran, James (Bakinson 43), Bannan (Shipston 86), Wilks (Paterson 46), Gregory. Unused subs: Stockdale, Brown, Iorfa, Smith. Attendance: 25,025.