REPORT: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 3-0 LEEDS UNITED

Owls inflict third defeat on Whites.

Sky Bet Championship

Sheffield Wednesday 3 (Hooper 25, 41, Lee 82) Leeds United 0

Leeds United suffered back to back defeats for the first time during the 2017/18 campaign, as Sheffield Wednesday ran out 3-0 winners at Hillsborough.

Leeds made a bright start to the game, Samu Saiz broke into the Sheffield Wednesday penalty area and crossed for Kalvin Phillips, but the Whites midfielder could only head wide.

Saiz then picked up the ball from a throw and turned and shot on the edge of the box, but he couldn’t find the target with his effort.

Saiz then went on an amazing run, beating four Wednesday players, before crossing to Ezgjan Alioski at the back post, but the Macedonian could only head into the side netting.

The home sides first chance came in the 17th minute, when Steven Fletcher teed up Barry Bannan to strike from the edge of the box, but his effort was well blocked by Pontus Jansson.

Wednesday then went close from a corner, the ball was played out to Adam Reach who struck from range and his deflected effort was well stopped by Felix Wiedwald.

The Owls took the lead in the 25th minute, Ross Wallace’s free-kick was headed on by Kieran Lee and Gary Hooper prodded home.

That lead was nearly doubled, when Bannan played Lee into the Leeds box and he beat Wiedwald, but the goal was ruled out for a controversial offside.

Fletcher then had a great chance to add a second for the home side, but he could only head wide from six yards out.

Four minutes from the break, Wednesday doubled their lead, Fletcher headed a ball into the box across goal and Hooper headed home his second of the game.

Half Time: Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Leeds United

After the break, Kemar Roofe almost capitalised on a mix up in the Sheffield Wednesday defence, but the home side recovered and the forward couldn’t get his shot away.

Three minutes into the second period, Leeds were only denied by the post, Lasogga was picked up the ball in the box, but his effort hit the woodwork.

Hooper threatened to score a hat-trick when he was picked out in the Leeds box, but he could only volley wide.

Bannan then played Hooper through on goal, but Wiedwald made a great save, one-on-one.

Jansson went close from a corner, but his header was cleared off the line, before Saiz fired a curling effort just off target.

Wallace then fired a decent shot from range which forced Wiedwald into action, before he turned provider as Bannan hit the post.

Eight minutes from time, the home side added a third, Eunan O’Kane’s loose pass was collected by Lee, who rifled home from the edge of the box.

In added time, Hooper almost grabbed his hat-trick, but was denied by the crossbar, as the Whites suffered a third successive away defeat

Full Time: Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Leeds United

 

Wednesday: Wildsmith, Hunt (Palmer 39), Jones, Van Aken, Lee, Fletcher (Rhodes 90), Bannan (Butterfield 87), Hooper, Lees, Reach, Wallace.  Subs not used: Nuhiu, Joao, Dawson.

Leeds: Wiedwald, Ayling, Jansson (Dallas 71), Pennington, Berardi, O’Kane, Phillips, Roofe (Hernandez 62), Saiz, Alioski (Sacko 62), Lasogga.  Subs not used: Lonergan, Shaughnessy, Vieira, Grot.

 

Referee: A. Madley

Booked: Palmer (Wednesday)

Venue: Hillsborough

Attendance: 27,972