Second half goals from Glenn Whelan and Steven MacLean saw Sheffield Wednesday to a 2-0 victory over the Blues. Town had plenty of possession and innumerable first half corners, but Franny Jeffers's late freekick off a post was the closest Town would get to a goal.

As expected, Jim Magilton made a number of changes to the side which beat Barnsley 5-1 on Saturday. George O'Callaghan, Jon Walters and Jaime Peters — three of the weekend's top performers — dropped to the bench with Danny Haynes getting a rare start on the right of midfield, Gavin Williams returning in the centre and Franny Jeffers coming in up front. Dan Harding, back after a two-match ban, was named amongst the subs.

The first chance of the game fell to Wednesday, Leon Clarke sending a corner from the left wide at the far post, appearing to do so with his hand, something not seen by Premiership referee Rob Styles.

However, for the most part the early stages were dominated by Town, wearing their black third kit shirt with white shorts, but a series of corners failed to lead to a serious chance.

Alan Lee forced keeper Iain Turner into a fine save on 15, the Irish striker curling a freekick goalwards after Glenn Whelan had fouled Gary Roberts and the on-loan Everton man tipping the ball over for yet another Town corner.

Three minutes later Owen Garvan struck the Wednesday crossbar after Danny Haynes had returned a half-cleared corner back into the box, although referee Styles signalled that the keeper had been fouled prior to Garvan's strike.

Whelan received the game's first yellow card for another foul on Roberts on 23. De Vos and Jeffers failed to make much of Williams's freekick into the area.

The home side were starting to get more involved as the half wore on and Price did well to punch away a Lee Bullen cross-shot in the 24th minute after an error by De Vos.

Just after the half hour, a Jeffers shot deflected through to Turner, prior to Fabian WIlnis cutting in from the right and hitting a strike into the sidenetting.

As the half drew to a close, a MacLean shot deflected through to Price, then Garvan sent Lee away but the striker failed to read the bounce and the ball struck his hand.

Town had been comfortably the better side, but without overly testing keeper Turner, Lee's freekick aside. The Owls had only really come into the game in the latter stages, passing the ball around tidily but, like Town, rarely looking threatening in and around the penalty area.

Within a minute of the restart Gary Roberts played in Owen Garvan on the right of the penalty area. The midfielder managed to get a shot in as he was caught by defenders but again Turner wasn't tested.

Immediately play moved to the other end and, with Town players standing off, Whelan was allowed time and space to hit a low shot across Price from the right into the net.

Three minutes later there were Town appeals for a penalty after Franny Jeffers was played in by Danny Haynes on the left of the area and looked to be tripped. Rob Styles blew his whistle, but signalled a freekick for an offside against the Blues' loan striker.

Bullen hit a shot on the turn which Price saved on 52, prior to Jeffers appealing for another possible penalty after he was stopped from reaching a Lee through-ball by Bullen and Steve Watson. Mr Styles was unimpressed.

Wednesday had Kenny Lunt to thank in the 56th minute when the former Crewe man blocked Jason De Vos's header from a Garvan corner on the line. Play quickly switched to the other end and Price saved a MacLean header with his feet.

On 57 Wednesday doubled their lead. Gavin Williams lost possession midway inside the Town half, the ball was played through to MacLean who, with defenders appealing for an offside, beat Price.

Gary Roberts picked up Town's first booking of the afternoon for a clash with Tommy Spurr in the 64th minute, shortly before a Sheffield Wednesday corner flashed across the Town six-yard box.

With Wednesday having had much the better of the first 20 minutes of the second period, Jim Magilton made two changes of personnel, Dan Harding and Jon Walters taking over from the tiring Danny Haynes and Gary Roberts. Harding went to left wing-back in a 3-4-3 with Walters joining Jeffers and Lee up front.

Alan Lee headed a Williams freekick straight at Turner in the 69th minute, then a Harding strike was blocked.

Town were starting to put the Owls under pressure but all too often the final ball into the box was missing, a Williams cross from the left which struck first man Marcus Tudgay was typical.

On 82 Garvan was fouled on the edge of the area. Jeffers was handed the ball and looked to have brought the Blues back into the game until, with Turner left standing, the ball came back off the post. Harding scooped the rebound well over.

Price saved from Chris Brunt, then Williams and Lee had strikes blocked but Jeffers's freekick was the closest the game would get to a third goal and as near as Town would come to getting anything out of the game.

The Blues will rue switching off and allowing Wednesday to score their first goal so soon after the break. Gaining the lead gave the home side confidence and they had much the better of the opening 20 minutes of the second half, although they weren't made to work too hard for either of their goals.

Town, who were on top before the break, came back into it late on but keeper Turner wasn't tested enough with too many balls into the box and the Blues' finishing lacking quality.

Town: Price, Wilnis, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan, Williams, Roberts (Harding 65), Haynes (Walters 65), Lee, Jeffers. Unused: Supple, O'Callaghan, Peters. Att:23,232.

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