Woeful Wednesday Beaten By Burton

Sheffield Wednesday's reserve team got what they deserved from this fixture - nothing. They were poor from start to finish, and were lucky to only lose by the one goal.

On paper, the Wednesday line-up should have had more than enough quality to dispatch Burton Albion, who fielded 46-year-old goalkeeper Kevin Poole (no lie).

The ageing Poole, could play for another 46 years and never have an easier evening.

Burton raced ahead when Wednesday defender Richard Hinds was outpaced (Hinds was taking a break from being outfought, outthought and ultimately outclassed, by a mediocre 4th Division striker) and the cross found its way across the box for a Burton player to smash home.

Akpo Sodje then threatened to break sweat, but eventually thought better of it, as pre-season acquisition Tommy Miller remained invisible.

Burton were further ahead before the break when an unstoppable strike from distance beat Richard O'Donnell.

Without O'Donnell, the Owls could have found themselves further behind in what was a truly awful first-half showing.

Some fans had voiced their anger, and were greeted by chairman Lee Strafford, and one fan's discussion continued well into the second-half.

The second-half couldn't have been much worse than the first, and it wasn't. But that was nothing to do with the experienced pros on the pitch, who continued to look uninterested.

The Owls did grab a goal back in the second-half, and it was through the only conceivable way - an own goal.

Frankie Simek, only showed brief glimpses of his former self, and his long-term future remains a worry.

To sum up, Wednesday were dire. They made players who can't get in a League Two side look like world-beaters.

The first-teamers should take most of the blame. They generally looked like they would rather be anywhere on Earth than at Hillsborough.

The youngsters tried their best, but lacked both the strength and skill to make a difference.

If performances like this continue, then there is no point in having a reserve team whatsoever.

Wednesday: O'Donnell 7, Simek 6, Hinds 5, Beevers 6, Wragg 5, Palmer 6, Harrison 5, Miller 4, Hall 5, Tunnard 5, Sodje 4.

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