Ugbo double helps lowly Sheff Wed down Birmingham-ZoomTech News

Ike Ugbo scored his first two objectives for the membership as Sheffield Wednesday brushed previous fellow Championship relegation battlers Birmingham Metropolis at Hillsborough.

The victory, solely the Owls’ seventh in 31 video games this season, lifts them inside 5 factors of security, though they continue to be rooted in twenty third.

After beginning with 4 factors from his first two league video games in cost, Blues boss Tony Mowbray has now misplaced three right away matches – the 3-0 FA Cup exit at Leicester adopted by final Saturday’s defeat by West Bromwich Albion and this poor present.

However, in every of these video games, Blues created the better variety of possibilities – and, on this event, particularly, had been overwhelmed by chronically poor defending.

They’d loved comfortably the higher of the opening exchanges when wobbly Wednesday went forward with their first actual assault on quarter-hour.

On solely his third look, one other Owls January signing Ian Poveda, who scored a profitable purpose for Blackpool at St Andrew’s final season, once more confirmed his liking for taking part in Blues, by setting it up, to no shock to visiting boss Tony Mowbray, who signed him on mortgage at Blackburn two seasons in the past and once more tried to for Blues final month.

Poveda darted to the appropriate byeline, pulled again and Ugbo, unmarked on the sting of the six-yard field, slammed dwelling a low right-foot shot.

Even then the guests remained an enormous risk, as Siriki Dembele’s shot deflected twice earlier than being palmed to security by Owls keeper James Beadle. And the recalled Scott Hogan was very shut with a near-post flicked header from Andre Dozzell’s nook, which flew simply the improper facet of the left upright.

However Ugbo had an incredible likelihood to double the Owls’ lead late within the first half when he fired broad – earlier than he lastly did get his second eight minutes into the second half.

Birmingham-born Marvin Johnson, who started his profession with Midlands Sunday League facet Romulus earlier than taking part in for Solihull Moors and Kidderminster Harriers, floated up a pleasant hanging left-wing cross to the far publish and the towering Ugbo made mincemeat of Lee Buchanan’s weak problem.

Purists would possibly nonetheless name it a foul, however not many this present day – and, from that second, regardless of a ruck of attacking adjustments, Metropolis surprisingly had little response.

Who’s subsequent?

Each side now face robust checks on Tuesday.

Danny Rohl’s Wednesday go to Championship leaders Leicester Metropolis, whereas Mowbray’s males are at dwelling to John Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers.

Having solely been appointed at Ewood Park earlier on Friday, Eustace won’t be in control of Rovers’ dwelling sport this Saturday in opposition to Stoke Metropolis.

Meaning Tuesday’s journey to St Andrew’s can be his first Rovers sport on the helm – 4 months on from his final sport there, a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion which took Blues fifth earlier than he was surprisingly sacked three days later.

Now Blues are nineteenth, simply 4 factors away from bother – and might be nearer nonetheless by the tip of the weekend.

Wednesday boss Danny Rohl informed BBC Radio Sheffield:

“It was an enormous enchancment from us. We fought for each inch.

“It was shut, Birmingham made it arduous for us. However I now understand how sturdy the mentality and perception is. Now we have proven we will recover from setbacks.

“Our power is our group. They combat for me, they combat for one another and so they combat for themselves.”

Blues boss Tony Mowbray informed BBC Radio WM:

“We one way or the other discovered a solution to lose 2-0. We let in two poor objectives and, if we get that many possibilities, we’ve to attain

“We have to damage the online and damage the opposition. It comes all the way down to high quality. It’s a must to take extra care with our last ball and our ending.

“I do not suppose it is improper to query that facet. 65% possession and 25 photographs. It was the identical form of factor at Leicester.

“Ian Poveda is an excellent participant. He is a participant I had for a season at Blackburn and we had been very near signing him on this window.”