Wolves 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2 (Forestieri-pen 15, Lee 29)
In front of Molineux’s largest crowd of the season, two Sheffield Wednesday goals in the first 30 minutes condemned disappointing Wolves to a ninth game without a win.
For Paul Lambert’s home debut the new Head Coach made two changes with Dave Edwards returning from suspension as skipper as Danny Batth was serving a one game ban, and Richard Stearman taking a spot in central defence. Bright Enobakhare dropped down to the bench after making his full League debut against Preston.
Wolves kicked-off attacking the North Bank end but the first chance fell to Fernando Forestieri who saw his angled drive comfortable saved by Andy Lonergan.
Glenn Loovens headed a Jack Price centre behind but Helder Costa’s corner was cleared as was Ross Wallace’s flag-kick at the other end.
Conor Coady took a return pass from George Saville but failed to make a proper connection with his shot which went well wide.
Wednesday took the lead in the 15th minute from the spot. The ball rolled dangerously through the six-yard box and when Forestieri took position, he was fouled by Matt Doherty. Forestieri took the kick himself and sent Lonergan the wrong way from the spot.
The immediate response from Wolves was another Costa corner that was booted clear from in front of the Wednesday line after a brief scramble.
The visitors were close to a second when Wallace played the ball back to the unmarked Barry Bannan just inside the area, but he lifted the ball over the bar.
However, the respite for Wolves proved to be brief and the Owls doubled their advantage in the 29th minute. Forestieri broke down the left and played the ball inside to Lucas Joao who set it up for Kieran Lee who converted from eight-yards out.
Wednesday continued to press and Wallace wasn’t far off with a 25-yard free-kick before Kortney Hause was inches away from putting through his own goal as he cut out a low cross from Wallace.
After Costa had been fouled to the right of the Wednesday box, he sent over a free-kick that was scrambled behind for a Price corner from which Dominic Iorfa headed over.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 Owls 2
Nouha Dicko was an interval replacement for Saville.
Two minutes into the new half Wolves were awarded a free-kick in a good position after Sam Hutchinson had fouled Costa but Price fired over the bar.
The Doherty played Dicko in to the right of the Sheffield goal but the striker lifted the ball over the near angle. Then Iorfa was booked for a challenge on Forestieri.
In the 63rd minute, for a split second, hopes rose in the home support as Hause made a good connection with Price’s corner but Kieren Westwood held the ball underneath the crossbar.
Wallace struck a low 20-yard effort straight at Lonergan as both sides made a series of changes. For the visitors, Liam Palmer took over from Jack Hunt and then one time Molineux striker Steven Fletcher replaced Joao.
For Wolves, Joao Teixeira and Ivan Cavaleiro went on in place of Costa and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson respectively
There was a chance for Cavaleiro when Edwards nodded down a Coady cross but the winger couldn’t get his foot to the ball.
After Teixeira had been booked for a heavy challenge on Hutchinson, Wednesday were close to a third in the 80th minute.
Wallace hit a 20-yard drive that Lonergan, at full stretch, managed to diverted onto the face of the far post before the ball went behind.
Then the Wolves keeper just managed to beat Forestieri to Hause’s miss-hit back-pass.
In stoppage time, Adam Reach for time wasting, and Price for a foul on Fletcher, both were shown the yellow card before Westwood blocked Cavaleiro’s late close range shot to deny Wolves a consolation goal.
Wolves: Lonergan, Doherty, Iorfa, Edwards (capt), Stearman, Hause, Costa (Teixeira 71), Price, Bodvarsson (Cavaleiro 76), Coady, Saville (Dicko 45).
Unused subs; Ikeme, Enobakhare, Saiss, Ronan.
Bookings: Iorfa (59 – foul), Teixeira (79 – foul), Price (90+2 – foul).
Owls: Westwood, Lee, Reach, Loovens (capt), Lees, Joao (Fletcher 73), Hutchinson, Hunt (Palmer 64), Wallace, Bannan (Buckley 90+2), Forestieri.
Unused subs; Dawson, Jones, Pudil, Nuhiu.
Booking: Reach (90+1 time-wasting).
Referee: J. Simpson.
Attendance: 27,293.
Sunderland Academy Under 18s 1 Wolves 0
