Wednesday 3-0 Oldham

Over to you, United. Wednesday moved back into second in League One thanks to a 3-0 victory over Oldham Athletic on Monday lunchtime to pile the pressure back on Sheffield United.

With the Blades not playing until Tuesday night, away at Rochdale, the Owls had the perfect opportunity to move above their neighbours and promotion rivals with three points over the Latics – and they didn’t disappoint.

It was hard work against a stubborn Oldham side but goals from Gary Madine, Miguel Llera and substitute Ryan Lowe eventually saw Wednesday to victory at Hillsborough.

Paul Dickov’s side may have felt they deserved more for their efforts, the scoreline certainly flattered Wednesday. But Dave Jones’s men were clinical in their finishing to make it two wins from two from a tricky Easter double-header.

Jones made just one change to the side that won 2-0 at Huddersfield Town on Saturday, with Julian Bennett coming in to replace the injured Reda Johnson at left-back.

It was a lively start for both sides at a rainy S6, with winger Michail Antonio cutting inside his marker before seeing his shot blocked inside the first few minutes but the Latics threatened at the other end when Dean Furman flashed an effort wide of Stephen Bywater’s goal.

The chances dried up and it suited Oldham, who looked a better side than their league position suggested. The Lancastrians enjoyed a good spell of possession but they almost gifted Wednesday the opener.

A loose ball allowed Antonio to intercept and race towards goal, but he shot straight at Athletic stopper Dean Bouzanis when he should have done better.

The Owls looked lacklustre, perhaps something to do with the fact it was their second game in just three days. But it was the same for both sides, and the visitors were looking to cash-in on Wednesday’s below-par performance.

Still, the pace of Jermaine Johnson and Antonio continued to threaten on the break, despite chances being few and far between. Chris Lines had a half chance for Wednesday but he curled his effort wide.

But the breakthrough came just before the interval, and it was carved out by the most unlikely of sources.

Centre-back Llera went tearing down the left wing before producing a pin-point cross for Madine to head home from close range and make it 1-0 going into the break.

Half-Time: Wednesday 1-0 Oldham

The goal didn’t exactly settle Wednesday on the resumption as Oldham continued to push forward and have the better of the ball in the opening exchanges.

The visitors felt hard done by when a couple of penalty appeals were turned away by the officials, while former Owl Shefki Kuqi also tested Bywater.

But, as with the first half, chances were at a premium and it wasn’t until after the hour mark that the Owls finally gained some breathing space.

Substitute Keith Treacy came close with one effort but it was man of the moment Llera that doubled Wednesday’s tally in the 67th minute.

It was from a Treacy cross that the Spaniard rose high to plant a header beyond the Oldham stopper to put the Owls in control at 2-0 up. It was the defender’s second goal in as many games.

On-loan midfielder Treacy was influential in the Owls’ third, too. He dug a cross out to find substitute Lowe, who dinked his header in from close rage in front of a delighted Hillsborough Kop to seal the win.

Wednesday’s only concern from the game will be an injury suffered by Lewis Buxton. Mark Beevers came in to replace him but Wednesday could have done without a second defensive injury in three days – Reda Johnson sustained a thigh injury at Huddersfield.

Full-Time: Wednesday 3-0 Oldham

Wednesday: Bywater, Buxton (Beevers 46), Llera, Batth, Bennett, Antonio, Semedo, Lines, J Johnson (Treacy 61), Ranger (Lowe 79), Madine. Unused substitutes: Weaver, Prutton.

Oldham: Bouzanis, Brown, Morais (Marsh-Brown 70), Furman, Simpson, Adeyemi, Diallo, Tarkowski (Belezika 87), Lee, Kuqi (Tounkara 79), Bunn. Unused substitutes: Gerrard, M’changama.