Sheffield Wednesday have been knocked out of the EFL Trophy following a dismal 0-3 defeat to Hartlepool United at Hillsborough Stadium.
The Owl’s manager Darren Moore made eight changes to the team sheet after a draw with Portsmouth, but despite this, Wednesday appeared disjointed and lacked cohesion from the get-go.
This poor performance lost them the game against their seventeenth-placed League Two opponents.
A loose pass from striker Saido Berahino enticed the visitors forward very early on, setting the tone for a Wednesday display characterised by individual errors and inaccurate passing.
Another errant back-pass in the 11th minute, this time from Ciaran Brennan, produced Hartlepool’s second corner.
Hartlepool used this set piece to its full advantage.
The initial corner was cleared, but Hartlepool recycled the ball well to the left flank.
An inviting in-swinging cross found Mark Shelton, who rose above his marker at the back post to nod past Wednesday’s goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Jaden Brown, once again, passed back under pressure from Hartlepool’s forwards. However, his pass sped along the ground, catching Wildsmith off guard, and rolled into the unguarded net for the visitors’ second.
Theo Corbeanu tried to respond. His jinking run from the right finished with an effort that was well-saved by Pools goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell.
In the 41st minute, Wednesday had a great opportunity to halve the deficit, but Brennan could only stab wide of the left-hand post from inside the box.
Moore rang the changes at half-time, unleashing Barry Bannan, Josh Windass and Jack Hunt in a triple change.
In the 57th minute, Corbeanu picked out Berahino in the box, but the Burundi international’s effort shot tamely into the gloves of Wildsmith, and this proved costly.
Hartlepool won a corner on the left a minute later, and Will Goodwin swept home via his left foot after his initial effort was cleared off the line.
Corbeanu continued to probe but could only find the stands after two promising inroads from the left.
A loud chorus of boos at full-time concluded the Owls’ miserable night.
