Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Reading
Strong Owls Storm To Victory Against Relegation Threatened Royals
After confirming survival last week in a 1-0 victory over Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday put together back-to-back victories against two teams that were around the Owls’ league position. A Forestieri brace with each goal coming either side of George Boyd’s tap in sealed off a fantastic performance for the hosts who seem to be drowning in confidence.
The first half didn’t see too many chances but when they did come around, it was Wednesday who were creating them. Three minutes in, Daniel Pudil’s over hit cross fell to the feet of Forestieri. Fernando used the decoy of Jack Hunts run to give him a yard of space before hitting his shot high over the bar from the edge of the area.
The first major opportunity came in the twenty-third minute of the game. Jordan Rhodes glanced George Boyd’s pinpoint cross just wide of the target.
Reading’s only glimpse at goal in the opening period came on the half hour mark. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson was gifted a chance as Cameron Dawson spilled a cross from out wide. Bödvarsson pounced on the loose cause and fired towards goal however, Frederico Venancio raced back to the byline and blocked the shot.
Sheffield Wednesday took the lead in the 35th minute. Daniel Pudil pulled the ball back to Forestieri in the area. Forestieri flicked the ball into the air with his first touch before volleying the ball, via a slight deflection, into the back of the net.
Five minutes before the break, Reach had the chance to extend the home side’s advantage. A high ball was knocked down by Jordan Rhodes into the path of Adam Reach whose half-volley bobbled into the hands of Vito Mannone.
The referee blew for halftime leaving the Owls faithful happy with how their team conducted themselves in the first period.
The second half started with a bang as Sheffield Wednesday added a second goal to their tally. Excellent dribbling from Adam Reach allowed the winger to pick out the run of George Boyd who stabbed the ball home for 2-0.
Minutes after Wednesday’s second, the visitors finally had a sight of goal. Chris Gunter picked up the ball on the byline due to an error from Pudil who hit his attempted clearance straight at Forestieri. The Welsh international floated the ball into the centre for Bödvarsson who headed wide of the target.
Reading saw another good chance pass them by on the hour mark. Modou Barrow weaved his way into the Wednesday area before driving the ball across the face of goal but no Reading player could get a touch on the cross to pull a goal back.
With twenty minutes to go, Barry Bannan tested the keeper from the edge of the box. Boyd knocked the ball onto Forestieri before receiving a pass from the forward down the line. Boyd’s cross was headed away by Blackett into the path of Bannan whose volley was tame as the keeper caught it with ease.
Forestieri bagged his brace with sixteen minutes to go. Forestieri kept the ball well on the edge of the area before a push from Swift meant his next touch was heavy. Forestieri slid in and tackled Blackett before rising to his feet to rifle the ball into the top corner. An exquisite finish from the Italian.
Things then went from bad to worse for Reading as they were dismissed to ten men. Atdhe Nuhiu tripped Tyler Blackett when attempting to win the ball. As Nuhiu walked away, Blackett lashed out and kicked the Kosovan international. After a discussion with his linesman, the referee sent off the ‘Royals’ left-back.
On the stroke of full-time, Joao ran himself into trouble but beat Gunter the the loose ball. Forestieri was on hand to shoot at goal however his shot was straight down the keepers throat as Mannone caught it. Reading countered from the chance but Kermogant headed Gunter’s teasing cross wide.
The final chance fell to the away side who were still looking for a way through a tight Wednesday backline. After the ball was being pinged about on the edge of the area, Richards found Swift who turned and curled his effort just wide of Dawson’s left-hand post.
The final whistle went to confirm all three points for The Owls as they look to build up momentum for next season. Where as for Reading, they find themselves only five points above the drop-zone with with two games to go.
Attendance: 24,343
Goals: Forestieri (34’, 73’), Boyd (52’)
SWFC: Cameron Dawson; Jack Hunt (Atdhe Nuhiu), Frederico Venancio (Connor Kirby), Tom Lees, Daniel Pudil, George Boyd; Joey Pelupessy, Barry Bannan, Adam Reach; Fernando Forestieri, Jordan Rhodes (Lucas Joao)
Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith, David Jones, Marco Matias, Frederik Nielsen
RFC: Vito Mannone; Chris Gunter, Tyler Blackett (s/o 75’), Liam Moore, Tiago Ilori; Joey van den Berg (Yann Kermagant), John Swift, Liam Kelly; Sone Aluko (Pelle Clement), Jón Dadi Bödvarsson (Omar Richards), Modou Barrow
Unused Subs: Anssi Jaakkola, Dave Edwards, Chris Martin, Andy Rinomhota
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