Report: Derby 2-0 Owls
Wednesday’s Derby hoodoo continued at the iPro Stadium as the hosts inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Carlos Carvalhal’s side.
It was the 17th meeting on the spin without a win for the Owls as goals either side of half time from Cyrus Christie and Alex Pearce sealed victory - but the outcome might been very different had a moment of early controversy fallen in the visitors’ favour.
After Cameron Dawson superbly averted a Jamie Hanson piledriver and counterpart Scott Carson clawed out Fernando Forestieri’s header, Wednesday seemed poised to take the lead.
Gary Hooper found Adam Reach at the back post and the winger’s strike was on target, only for Richard Keogh to divert almost on the line.
The Owls were convinced an arm was used to make the block but the penalty appeals were waived away.
Then to compound matters, the Rams took the lead on 17 minutes.
Tom Ince swung over an accurate corner and Christie climbed the highest to nod past Dawson.
The Rams had the edge immediately after the goal and twice Dawson denied the dangerous looking Ince with top drawer saves.
At the other end, Reach and Barry Bannan forced Carson into action and a pulsating first half ended with Darren Bent heading narrowly wide after a fine run and cross by Christie.
The Owls started the second period with intent and Forestieri lashed a fierce strike over the crossbar before the Italian saw Carson dive low to his right to keep another shot out and the score at 1-0.
Despite feeling the heat and being forced onto the back foot, Derby were far from finished and the Midlanders countered to double their lead on 66 minutes.
Ince sent a free kick into the danger zone and after a swift passing move, the ball fell nicely for Pearce to stab home from close range.
That took the wind from Wednesday’s sails and a miserable afternoon was complete when substitute Steven Fletcher left the field with a head injury just 16 minutes following his introduction.
Wednesday: Dawson, Palmer, Lees, Hutchinson, Pudil (Fletcher 61 (Nuhiu 77), Bannan; Lee, Jones (Wallace 74), Reach, Forestieri, Hooper