Yeovil 2-0 Wednesday

Ishmael Miller scored twice to help Yeovil to a crucial victory over Wednesday that boosted their Championship survival hopes and ended the Owls’ nine-match unbeaten run on their travels.

The former West Brom man was the difference in a relatively even contest at Huish Park with goals either side of half-time stretching their unbeaten run to five matches and hauling the Glovers to within two points of safety.

The day was made worse for the visitors when loan man Sam Hutchinson was sent off late on for a second bookable offence but the Owls remain ten points clear of the drop zone and will hope it was just a bad day at the office.

Things didn’t start well, either, with Chris Kirkland ruled out with a calf injury, leaving back-up goalkeeper Damian Martinez to deputise. Giles Coke was passed fit to feature.

The sides battled out a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough earlier in the season and the match was similarly contested this time around, with both sides having half-chances in an even first-half.

Jacques Maghoma fashioned the first opportunity on goal but his shot was comfortably deal with by Yeovil keeper Marek Stech. At the other end, Miller showed his first threatening signs but Martinez did well to deny him and then when the Yeovil forward did beat him the officials adjudged him to be offside.

Jeremy Helan did well to tee-up Giles Coke but the Owls midfield man saw his effort deflected over the bar as both sides continued to search for the breakthrough.

That came just four minutes before half-time after the hosts had upped the tempo. Miller grabbed it to give Gary Johnson’s men a confidence booster at just the right time.

And they continued that momentum into the second half by doubling their lead. Again it was that man Miller but this time it came from nothing, with the on-song front man scoring a superb individual strike to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.

Gray made a double switch in a bid to change the flow of the game with Jermaine Johnson and Atdhe Nuhiu coming on but Yeovil maintained their superiority and almost had a chance for a third but the referee waved away claims for a penalty following a foul by Hutchinson in the box.

Hutchinson got away with the penalty appeal but he didn’t get away with a sending off late for a second booking, leaving the Owls to make the long trip back north with nothing to show for their efforts.

Yeovil: Stech, Ayling, McAllister, Edwards, Webster, Palazuelos, Hayter (Morgan 86), Lawrence, Duffy, Holmes (Grant 67), Miller (Dawson 71). Substitutes: Lanzoni, Done, Twumasi, Lundstram.

Wednesday: Martinez, Palmer, Loovens, Onyewu, Helan, Maghoma, Coke (Coke 60), Maguire (Nuhiu 53), Gardner (J Johnson 53) Hutchinson (sent off 89), Best. Substitutes: Davies, Buxton, Lllera, Lavery.