It was a tale of two polar opposite teams on a Friday night at Hillsborough. Wolves were flying at the top of the Championship, where as Sheffield Wednesday were deprived of confidence and looking vulnerable.
Bonatini was Wolves’ most attacking threat this season hitting the net twelve times in twenty games. He tried to conjure a chance when Cavaleiro held of Morgan Fox and then back heeled the ball to Bonatini who ran to the by-line to put in a cross into the middle, however Joost van Aken was there to block to ball which was then caught safely by back-up keeper Joe Wildsmith.
Wednesday got their first sight of goal when Liam Palmer crossed the ball into the box, Jordan Rhodes chested the ball down to Reach who was on the edge but he could only volley wide.
Shortly after Joost van Aken saw his shot saved by John Ruddy. Wallace crossed in from the right and van Aken redirected the ball towards the bottom left corner but the Wolves number one got down quickly and held on to the ball.
Wolves took the lead a few minutes after the half hour mark when the referee gave a questionable freekick to the Wanderers as it looked like Butterfield had won the ball. Subsequently Ivan Cavaleiro swung in the freekick. The ball was cleared out by David Jones to £20 million rated Ruben Neves who sweetly hit his shot cleanly into the bottom corner.
Wednesday looked for a response and should of done better with the chance they created. Butterfields corner was flicked on backwards by a Wolves player, van Aken tapped the ball back in to stop it going out but that was headed away, Jones smashed the ball into the air towards the edge of the box where keeper John Ruddy rushed out to punch. However the ex-England international misjudged his calculations and missed the ball completely. Reach stretched out a leg and passed it to Rhodes who, with his back to goal, hit his shot wide and out for a goalkick.
On the hour mark the Championship league leaders when close when Saiss rose highest to connect with Cavaleiro’s deep cross, however his header went agonisingly wide of the post.
Then two minutes later Wolves again could of doubled their lead when wing-back Doherty squared the ball from the right to Bonatini where he, despite slipping at his first attempt, got up, turned and fired his shot wide.
Wednesday were still looking for an equaliser and went close on two different occasions. Firstly, Reach’s cross from the left carried in the air for a while until dropping at the back post where Gary Hooper headed down in to the middle of the box. Unfortunately for Wednesday goalscorer Ruben Neves cleared away the set up. Then Liam Palmer took on his man and sent a very inviting ball into the middle where Lucas Joao beat Nuhiu to the cross and headed over.
Wednesday were reduced to ten men with five minutes to go. Helder Costa was using his skills to waste time in the corner, he turned Fox and started to head towards goal where Fox clipped his heels. He then received a second yellow and was given his marching orders.
In search of another goal to kill the game off, Wolves went close through danger man Ivan Cavaleiro as he received a pass from Jota who had dispossessed Glenn Loovens of the ball on halfway. The Portuguese winger rifled his shot again wide of the target.
FULLTIME: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Wolves
Many Wednesday fans were frustrated with the result. Boo’s cried out around the ground and three people collectively in front of me held a strip of wallpaper (in place of a banner) saying ‘CaRLOS OUT’, that’s right they forgot to put a capital A there, plus there’s probably a good bathroom out there that could’ve had that strip! It was very embarrassing for me as a fan, I never thought people would succumb to this, we are not Arsenal ;). The only thing I agree with about that banner is that it’s time for change…..on to Middlesbrough at home on Saturday 23rd of December
Attendance: 23,809
Goals: Neves (34’)
SWFC: Joe Wildsmith; Liam Palmer, Glenn Loovens, Joost van Aken, Morgan Fox; Ross Wallace, Jacob Butterfield (Lucas Joao), David Jones, Adam Reach; Jordan Rhodes (Atdhe Nuhiu), Gary Hooper
Unused Subs: Jake Kean, Marco Matias, Daniel Pudil, Almen Abdi, Frederico Venancio
WWFC: John Ruddy: Matt Doherty, Ryan Bennett, Conor Coady, Willy Boly, Ruben Vinagre (Danny Batth); Ivan Cavaleiro (Alfred N’Diaye), Romain Säiss, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota; Leo Bonatini (Helder Costa)
Unused Subs: Will Norris, Morgan Gibbs-White, Roderick Miranda, Bright Eknobakhare
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