Sheffield Wednesday managed to avenge their playoff defeat against Sunderland in May with a 2-0 win to make it into the Carabao Cup second round. 

The theme of League One sides beating Championship teams continued from last night, as a Dennis Adeniran stunner and a Sylla Sow volley was enough to secure the win for Wednesday.

The Owls were dominant throughout the contest at Hillsborough, as they took full advantage of a Black Cats side who had made 11 changes for their trip to Hillsborough.

Sunderland were far from their best on the night, producing very little going forwards and struggling to assert themselves in midfield.

Story of the match

Callum Paterson flicked the ball onto Lee Gregory in the box early on in the match, but he could not quite meet the pass. 

Alex Bass made the first save of the game when Adeniran beat his man on the right hand side and crossed the ball into the box, which the English keeper cut out. 

The Owls started the match better than the visitors, but the game was quite cagey to start off with, as both sides had made several changes for the game. 

Trai Hume led the first Sunderland attack, charging down the wing before being fouled just outside the box. 

The resulting free kick which was aimed towards the far post came to nothing. 

A screamer to ignite the match

Adeniran scored a stunning goal from range to open the scoring and give the game life in the 16th minute.

Gregory picked out a wonderful long ball to Liam Palmer, whose cross into the box was cleared to the midfielder, who smashed the ball right into the top corner from distance. 

Embed from Getty Images

Not long after, last season's top goal scorer Gregory saw his effort cleared off the line after a corner routine saw the striker in space at the front post, but his shot was blocked. 

Jack Diamond found himself in space for the Black Cats, but he had very little support and could only force a corner which produced no end product for Sunderland.

The striker, who was on loan at Harrogate Town last term, dragged a shot just wide seconds later from the edge of the box. 

Jaden Brown had a shot from just inside of the box after Gregory was tackled, but his effort was blocked.

Wednesday had been in full control of the midfield as the game approached the half an hour mark, with some sloppy passes from Alex Neil's side gifting the hosts possession on several occasions. 

Paterson looked to be in on goal when he outmuscled his defender and brought the ball under control, but the referee deemed the challenge made by the former Cardiff City man to be a foul. 

George Byers had his first shot of the game when he dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box to end a flowing attacking move from The Owls which had seen Palmer pick out Adeniran beforehand. 

Luke O'Nien forced Cameron Dawson to make his first save of the game when he headed the ball towards goal at the back post.

Gregory, who had been influential in the first half was taken off just before half time holding his hamstring, and was replaced by Sow, which Wednesday will hope was not too serious an injury. 

Elliot Embleton had a shot from the outside the box in added time, but it went high and wide of the mark. 

Darren Moore would certainly have been the happier manager at the break, as his side led 1-0 at the interval having dominated possession.

It was however a half of few big chances, with only a flurry of opportunities falling the hosts' way after Adeniran's stunning goal which separated the sides. 

Sustained pressure from The Owls

Adeniran started the second half by making a strong challenge and firing a driven cross into Paterson, but his effort was blocked. 

Byers fired a free kick well over the bar from far out in the 48th minute of the tie. 

Humes drilled the ball across the box for the Black Cats, which nobody could onto the end of, despite Carl Winchester getting close to the cross.

Wednesday doubled their lead through substitute Sow in the 56th minute.

It was Adeniran again who pounced on a poor pass from Bass in goal, crossing to the back post for the Dutchman who volleyed home. 

Substitute Michael Ihiekwe made a superb interception to stop Diamond crossing to Aji Alese who would have had a golden chance to score had the former Rotherham United man not made the challenge.

Sow looked to latch onto the end of a long ball, but Bass was just about able to beat him to the ball to prevent him from having another great opportunity. 

O'Nien cut the ball back to Diamond who shot, but could only hit a Wednesday shirt on the edge of the box.

Patrick Roberts had a free kick from the edge of the area, but he whipped the ball well wide of the post as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

Sow looked to get his second of the game when he capitalised on Winchester's mistake to race through on goal, but he held onto the ball for too long and was tackled. 

Full time saw Wednesday secure a deserved 2-0 victory at Hillsborough.

They were by far the better side on the day, and Neil will wonder what happened to his team who saw his side's 18 match unbeaten run, spanning across the end of last season and the start of the current campaign, come to an end.

Embed from Getty Images

Player of the match

Dennis Adeniran produced a fine performance against Sunderland to show his quality.

The midfielder produced a goal and an assist to ensure his side were in the hat for the Carabao Cup second round draw.

The goal was a stunning strike, which arrowed into the top left hand corner from miles out, having twisted and turned to allow himself the space to shoot beforehand.

The Englishman summed up the desire and character of The Owls' performance when he intercepted a loose pass from Bass in goal, producing a wonderful ball to Sow to double the lead.

Having not made an appearance in Wednesday's opening two matches in the league, the midfielder certainly produced the performance which was needed to give Moore a selection headache for their game against Charlton on Saturday. 

VAVEL Logo
About the author