Saturday 11 February 2017 10:46, UK
Jordan Rhodes and Sam Winnall both scored their first goals for Sheffield Wednesday in a 3-0 victory over Birmingham in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday night.
Rhodes, making his home debut at Hillsborough, nodded home after nine minutes while Winnall added a second, also with his head, after 80 minutes.
Substitute Adam Reach wrapped up the win late on, helping the Owls to tighten their grip on sixth place in the table.
Gianfranco Zola's Blues, meanwhile, stay in 12th ahead of the rest of the weekend's action, 12 points off the final play-off place.
Wednesday started the brighter of the two sides and took the lead as Rhodes rose highest in the box to nod home from close range after Ross Wallace had delivered a free-kick right into the heart of the Birmingham box.
The Blues, who had finally won under Zola at the 11th attempt last weekend, came back at them, though, and struck the woodwork twice in quick succession just before the 20-minute mark.
First, Sam Hutchinson nearly headed past his own goalkeeper from a free-kick, but saw the ball clip the outside of the post and go wide, before Emilio Nsue struck the ball against the other upright after it had fallen to him in the box.
Birmingham began to dominate possession as the half went on, but failed to create any real chances to get level as Wednesday sat deep while looking to counter at every opportunity.
Wednesday nearly got a second just after half-time as they stole the ball back in Birmingham territory before working it forward to Winnall in the box, but his shot was kept out by Tomasz Kuszczak, who got down well.
The Blues were a little fortunate not to go down to 10 men just before the hour mark, as Maikel Kieftenbeld's studs-up lunge onto the ankle Morgan Fox was only deemed worthy of a booking by the referee.
Wednesday's woodwork would be rattled for a third time after 78 minutes as Craig Gardner turned well 25 yards out before his dipping shot crashed into the crossbar, but it would be their last chance to level as the Owls scored a second soon afterwards. Jack Hunt's whipped a cross right into the heart of the Birmingham box, and Winnall was there to dive in and head home.
Reach then sealed the points four minutes from time as Winnall's touch found him racing through on goal, before he coolly slotted home.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:
"It was a difficult Championship game. We started very well and scored a goal, we could have got more. Then we relaxed a little and credit to Birmingham [for getting back into the game].
"In the second half we started well again, and had one or two chances. At 1-0 it was a dangerous score. Credit to us for the way we defender, keeping another clean sheet. We did very well in this part of the game, we waited for our moment. We created more chances and we scored three goals."
Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola:
"I don't think it was very fair, I don't think they deserved to win the game. They were very good at the beginning and we were not prepared. For the rest of the game we were better than them and we were on top. To be fair the team played one of our best games, but again we come up with nothing and it's frustrating.
"I believe in the work and process and we will get better. Again, the only disappointing thing today was as we started. If you play a team like Sheffield Wednesday you cannot afford to start so slowly, that was the difference."
