Leyton Orient 0-1 Wednesday

Reda Johnson’s second-half strike gave Wednesday three points against Leyton Orient in a confident-looking performance that moved the Owls up to second in the table.

With Sheffield United not playing against Chesterfield until next week, it gave Wednesday the chance to move into the automatic promotion spots – and they didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Victory piles the pressure on the Blades as the season enters its ‘business end’ and keeps Dave Jones’s unbeaten start as Wednesday boss going.

Jones made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 against Walsall in midweek, although there were no starting places for new loan signings Nile Ranger and Keith Treacy, who were named as substitutes.

Danny Batth was out injured, meaning Miguel Llera got the nod in defence alongside Rob Jones. Reda Johnson returned from an injury of his own at left-back, while Chris O’Grady replaced Ryan Lowe in attack and Jermaine Johnson came in for Mike Jones.

The scoreline flattered the hosts somewhat and Wednesday started in confident, attacking, fashion – something that continued throughout. Jermaine Johnson was first to threaten when he headed wide from a Chris Lines cross.

Michail Antonio, the Owls’ man of the moment, then twice had O’s goalkeeper Paul Rachubka on alert with a header wide and a shot straight at the stopper as Wednesday continued to ask the questions.

The hosts struggled to carve out many chances in front of goal and Owls stopper Stephen Bywater was a spectator for much of the first half, although with the scores still level Russell Slade’s men were still very much in the contest.

Half-Time: Orient 0-0 Wednesday

The flow of the game continued in a similar manner on the restart, with Wednesday enjoying the bulk of the possession and the chances inf front of goal.

And their dominance told four minutes the restart when Reda Johnson grabbed what turned out to be the decisive goal.

Chris Lines struck a free-kick into the box and the Benin international saw his first effort saved by Rachubka but was alert to prod home at the second time of asking to give Wednesday a deserved lead.

Little changed after that, with Orient looking unlikely to find a leveller, although Wednesday would still have liked a second to make it a comfortable final 20 minutes.

Gary Madine had a good chance to add that second after O’Grady saw his initial effort saved. But the best chance fell to Antonio, who got on the end of a Madine ball but struck his effort wide of goal when he perhaps should have done better.

Jones introduced Ranger and Treacy for their debuts in the final half hour and the former almost made an immediate impact but his shot on the turn went just wide following good work by Jermaine Johnson.

Orient saved their most attacking stint until the end but the Owls held on for victory in relatively comfortable fashion.

Orient: Rachubka, Chorley, Cuthbert, Forbes, Cox, Reed (Porter 67), Lisbie, McSweeney, Smith, Leacock (Laird 79), Campbell-Ryce (Andrew 87). Unused substitutes: Ben Youssef, Mooney.

Wednesday: Bywater, Buxton, R Jones, Llera, R Johnson, Semedo, Lines, Antonio, J Johnson (Treacy 79), Madine (Lowe 87), O’Grady (Ranger 61). Unused substitutes: Jameson, Beevers.