Three first-half ‘goal of the season’ contenders took Wednesday through to the Carabao Cup third round after a 3-0 win over struggling Rochdale at Hillsborough tonight.
Darren Moore made nine changes from the side that won at Bolton on Saturday, giving a first team debut to youngster Jay Glover, while Rochdale went into the tie having lost all five league games this season.
There was a distinctly low-key start to the match before Wednesday stunned the visitors with three tremendous long-range goals inside 20 minutes.
The first came midway through the half when Jaden Brown fired home a cracking 25-yarder for his first goal for the club.
Thirteen minutes later we were two-up with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru curling another super effort into the top corner of the net and from similar distance.
Stunned Rochdale keeper Cieran Slicker then pushed onto the bar from Brown but a third spectacular Wednesday goal came shortly before half time.
Dennis Adeniran picked up the ball just inside the Rochdale half, moved forward with purpose and unleashed a fierce drive past Slicker from 30 yards for a third ‘goal of the season’ nomination on the night … not forgetting Adeniran’s strike in the previous round against Sunderland.
After the break, Liam Kelly went close for Rochdale before Wednesday missed a good chance to make it four, Sylla Sow fluffing his pass as he tried to find the unmarked Callum Paterson.
Tyrese Sinclair also threatened with a late lob over the bar as the visitors looked for a consolation goal but it was not to be as Wednesday eased into tomorrow night’s round three draw.
Dawson, Glover (A. Hunt 70), Iorfa, Heneghan (Ihiekwe 52), McGuinness (Galvin 46), Brown, Vaulks, Dele-Bashiru (Byers 70), Adeniran, Paterson, Sow. Unused subs: Stockdale, Johnson, Bakinson, Bannan, Gregory. Att: 9,045.