Wednesday 2-0 Rochdale

Wednesday put their off-the-field problems to one side on Saturday to record a 2-0 victory over Rochdale in npower League One and make it three wins on the spin in all competitions.

Second-half strikes from Giles Coke and Clinton Morrison were enough for the Owls, who had to fend off a spirited Rochdale performance to secure the much-needed points with an improved performance after the break.

The visitors had edged the game in terms of possession and chances in the first half but Alan Irvine's men were worthy of the maximum points haul thanks to their second-half showing.

Wednesday made just one change to the side that beat Hartlepool in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek with Mark Beevers coming back into the defence to replace the injured Jon Otsemobor.

It meant Lewis Buxton returning to right-back and Beevers partnering skipper Darren Purse at the heart of the Owls defence.

The visitors came into the game looking to bounce back from an FA Cup exit against non-league FC United of Manchester and they started the game brightly with Joe Thompson lashing the first effort on goal, but Owls stopper Nicky Weaver was equal to it.

Wednesday made a sluggish start, despite going into the game on the back of two consecutive high-scoring victories, and found chances hard to come by in the opening exchanges.

Their first chance came when Clinton Morrison superbly turned his marker before producing a fine cross for Mellor, who saw his header come crashing back off the woodwork.

The Owls' front two have been in good form, giving Irvine little option but to keep Marcus Tudgay on the bench in the last few games.

Chances were few and far between for both sides, with Rochdale perhaps shading the possession but failing to really trouble the hosts when they got into the final third.

Tommy Miller did have a half-chance before half-time when he headed straight at 'Dale goalkeeper Josh Lillis, but the 0-0 scoreline at the interval reflected a pretty lacklustre match.

Half-Time: Wednesday 0-0 Rochdale

Wednesday needed a bright start in the second half and Morrison and Gary Teale both tested Lillis early on as the Owls attacked the Kop end.

The game was going to need something special to find a breakthrough and Wednesday's opener, on 62 minutes, came from the move of the match.

Morrison picked up the ball at the edge of the box from a James O'Connor pass, and he held it up before laying it off for the on-rushing Coke to smash in his first league goal since August.

The goal lifted the hosts, but only briefly as the visitors pushed forward, looking to get back on level terms.

They should have levelled not long after Coke's opener but Thompson somehow tapped his shot inches wide of goal when one-on-one with Weaver.

It was a huge let off for Wednesday, but the hosts soon regained their momentum and started playing some better football, with Teale testing Lillis with a drive from the edge of the box.

The game was all-but over eight minutes from time when Miller diverted the ball into the path of the unmarked Morrison, who glanced his header into the back of the net.

It was deserved for the former Coventry City hitman, who is forming a good partnership alongside Mellor in attack.

Three points and three wins on the spin for the Owls in all competitions, and a win that moves them to ninth in the league table.

Full-Time: Wednesday 2-0 Rochdale

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