Sheffield Wednesday closed in on the League One play-offs following a 2-0 victory over Morecambe at Hillsborough. Goals from George Byers and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing secured three points for The Owls which takes them to within four points of sixth-placed Oxford United.
The hosts made one change to the side which defeated Ipswich Town 1-0 at the weekend, with Byers coming in for Massimo Luongo at the base of midfield.
The first-half proved to be quite a disrupted contest as Wednesday’s new loan signing Harlee Dean sustained an injury in the sixth minute and needed to be replaced. Morecambe’s goalkeeper Trevor Carson, another new loan signing, then succumbed to a similar fate and was replaced by Kyle Letheren in the 23rd minute.
It resulted in a disjointed opening thirty-five minutes with The Shrimps’ forward Cole Stockton having a stabbed effort saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell following a defensive mix-up. The best opportunity of the half fell to Wednesday’s Mendez-Laing who could not convert from the centre of the box after a positive give-and-go with Florian Kamberi. The first-half concluded with Wednesday building significant pressure as Marvin Johnson had a sweet cushioned volley ruled out for offside in the 41st minute.
The Owls were growing into the game and they picked off where they left in the second-half. Josh Windass had a shot blocked in the centre of the goal before the pressure eventually tolled on Morecambe.
Byers received the ball outside the box in the 56th minute, was urged to shoot by the home crowd and he duly obliged, producing a stunning shot which rifled into the top-right corner leaving Letheren stranded.
Wednesday were in control of the game now and fashioned the better opportunities however they did have a scare when Morecambe twice had headers cleared off the line from close-range following an Adam Phillips free-kick in the 84th minute.
Mendez-Laing eased the home supporters’ nerves and sealed all three points for Wednesday when he fired home a deflected effort in stoppage-time.
Sheffield Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell; Storey, Dean (Palmer 7’), Hutchinson; Mendez-Laing, Dele-Bashiru (Paterson 45’), Byers, Bannan, Luongo, Johnson; Windass (Berahino 72’), Kamberi (Sow 66’). Unused subs: Wildsmith, Brennan, Hunt.
Morecambe: Carson (Letheren 23’); Conney (Connolly 80’), O’Connor, Bedeau, McLaughlin; McLoughlin, Diagouraga, Phillips; Gnahoua (Bennett 45’), Stockton, Ayunga (Obika 80’). Unused subs: Wildig, McCalmont, Fane.
Goals: Sheffield Wednesday: Byers (55′), Mendez-Laing (91’).
Bookings: Sheffield Wednesday: Hutchinson (83’)
Morecambe: McLaughlin (50)’.
Man of the Match: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Attendance: 19,261.
Referee: Ollie Yates.