Report: Wednesday 3-2 Millwall

MIGUEL Llera was Wednesday’s hero as his late, late winner continued the Owls’ impressive start to life in the Championship with victory over Millwall at Hillsborough.

The Spanish defender scored twice as the hosts came from 2-1 down to bag a second victory on the spin and stretch manager Dave Jones’s unbeaten run as Owls boss to 17 games.

Jermaine Johnson had fired Wednesday ahead with a superb solo goal before James Henry and Liam Trotter had turned the game on its head to send the Lions into half-time ahead.

But Wednesday continued to show their ‘never say die’ attitude right until the final whistle to deliver another three points that keeps them second in the Championship table.

Jones made just one change to the side that won by the same scoreline against Birmingham City in midweek, with Gary Madine coming in for Chris O’Grady.

And it was Madine who fashioned the first chance on goal for the hosts but his tame effort was comfortably gathered by Millwall goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

The Owls had more of the ball in the opening exchanges but both sides had their fair share of chances and Llera, while lethal in front of goal, was just as good at the back to deny former Blades striker Darius Henderson with a last-gasp tackle.

The match was being contested in the middle of the park, with Wednesday’s jet-heeled wide men struggling to get in to the game, despite the best efforts of on-song Johnson.

That was until the 20th minute when the Jamaican burst into life to fire the Owls ahead with a real cracker.

Johnson powered towards goal and unleashed a powerful effort that Taylor got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from flying in the top corner, prompting the wing wizard to wheel away and perform his countryman Usain Bolt’s famous celebration.

The Owls couldn’t build on that advantage, however, and let their visitors back into the contest.

The rain started to pour down and that seemed to suit the visitors, with Karleigh Ossborne lashing an effort over the bar before the Lions got on level terms.

Former United forward Henderson was the provider, feeding James to produce a delicate finish over Owls stopper Chris Kirkland and get Kenny Jackett’s side on level terms.

Things got better for Millwall three minutes before the break when James turned goalscorer to provider, threading a ball through the middle of Wednesday’s static defence for Trotter to latch on to and provide the perfect finish to send the visitors into half-time ahead.

Half-Time: Wednesday 1-2 Millwall

Wednesday had finished the first half in sloppy fashion but that started the second half on top, with Michail Antonio firing an early effort just over the woodwork.

The next goal was always going to be crucial and the Owls looked the most likely, although the Londoners still looked a threat on the break.

On-loan forward Rodri almost scored a world-class goal when Antonio provided a deep cross down the middle and the Barcelona B man smashed a left-foot volley inches wide of Taylor’s goal.

Jones introduced O’Grady, so impressive in the opening matches of the season, for Madine and he twice tested Taylor as the Owls continued to knock on the Millwall door.

The equaliser wasn’t far away and Taylor tried his best to avert the danger from an Antonio cross, first with Reda Johnson hitting the post and then with the Millwall stopper denying Llera. But he couldn’t stop the Spaniard from the rebound as he picked himself up to stab the ball home and make it 2-2.

The goal lifted the players, and the crowd, and the one-way traffic continued for the remaining 20 minutes, although Wednesday were limited to long-range efforts, with Johnson firing two shots over the bar.

O’Grady was again denied by Taylor but the winner came with a minute of normal time remaining.

Antonio was again the provider for Llera to score from close range and give Wednesday another three points in dramatic fashion.

Full-Time: Wednesday 3-2 Millwall

Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Llera, Beevers, R Johnson, Antonio, Semedo, McCabe, J Johnson, Madine (O`Grady 58), Rodri (Pecnik 90). Unused substitutes: Bywater, Lee, Coke, Prutton, Maguire

Millwall: Taylor, Dunne, Wright (Racon 72), Trotter, Henderson, Lowry, Henry, Keogh, Abdou, Osborne, Malone. Unused substitutes: Forde, Marquis, Shittu, Feeney, Batt, Taylor.