Wednesday Edge Past Lowly Millers

Wednesday had a scare, not the type of non-league scare in the FA Cup but a scare that a team rock bottom of the League nearly earned a point at S6. That was until an injury-time penalty from Steven Fletcher broke Millers hearts in a 1-0 EFL Championship win at Hillsborough yesterday.

The Owls made it four wins in five games and remain in the playoff hunt. With the Millers awful form it was expected that the Owls started the stronger and with Forestieri, Bannan missing. Chances weren’t that easily created to break down a stubborn travelling side.

Joao, yet to find his scoring boots since returning from injury, blazed a half-chance over from eight yards. Followed by Tom Lees who headed over a free-kick as a familiar pattern started again as chances came and went without a goal.

Rotherham created some scoring chances via ex-Owls defender Richard Wood who headed at Westwood who was making his 100 Wednesday appearance and on the way to his 38th clean sheet. That clean sheet was nearly lost as Adeyemi headed into the Owls net but the referee had blown for a foul saving Owls blushes at half-time.

The game improved in the second half but it wasn’t clear if the home side would break down the Millers. Joao again was denied as Fisher cleared off the line after the Portuguese forward created an opening and beat another ex-Owls in the form of Lewis Price but Fisher cleared the danger.

Millers goalkeeper Lewis Price had to get down smartly to keep out his team-mate and another former Wednesday player Joe Mattock’s defensive header, while Joao again tested Price’s handling.

Price, was the busier of the two keepers and again had to save from Steven Fletcher, whose header was going in after he rose above a stern Millers defence.

As the time ebbed into time added on the games talking point arose. Richard Wood bundled into Joao who was brave enough to force himself towards the ball, as Joao went over the referee awarded a spot kick which was dispatched by Fletcher. That was in the fourth minute of injury time and won it for the Owls.