Nottm Forest 0-3 Sheff Wed: Match Report

Sheffield Wednesday ended their goal famine in emphatic fashion as they cruised to a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest, even after being reduced to 10 men.

Aiden McGeady put the visitors ahead before the break, after breaking the resolve of Forest keeper Dorus de Vries in the 30th minute.

Gary Hooper added a second following some dreadful defending in the 62nd minute and, even after having Barry Bannan sent off in the 72nd minute, the Owls still managed to add a third through sub Marco Matias, five minutes from the end.

Carlos Carvalhal's side had not scored in their previous three Sky Bet Championship outings, but might have had more goals at the City Ground against a Reds side who were feeling the impact of a host of injuries to their attacking players.

Britt Assombalonga, Matty Fryatt, Nelson Oliveira, Jamie Ward and Dexter Blackstock were all ruled out.

Forest were the first to threaten, with David Vaughan firing a low shot from the edge of the box, which keeper Keiren Westwood held well.

Jorge Grant lifted an effort over the bar for the Reds, but it was the visitors who should have taken the lead, through Fernando Forestieri.

He was denied by a fine stop from Dorus de Vries but, when the ball rebounded back to him, he should have beaten the goalkeeper, but shot poorly.

Westwood had to demonstrate quick feet after a driven shot from Chris Cohen took a wicked deflection, sending the ball spinning dangerously towards his near post.

An end-to-end start to the game saw de Vries have to make an even better stop, acrobatically tipping over a crisply struck 20-yard effort from McGeady.

McGeady did find the back of the net in the 30th minute, after Vaughan had lost possession in the centre.

Bannan slotted a pass into the box, which Eric Lichaj looked likely to intercept, before losing his footing, allowing McGeady to take a touch, and fire beyond de Vries from eight yards.

Forest needed a smart reaction save from de Vries to keep the score at 1-0, after Bannan had connected perfectly with a driven volley on the edge of the box.

The home side would have equalised before half time had Grant sent a header either side of Westwood but, when he connected with Osborn's driven cross, he directed it right at the keeper.

It was still de Vries who was being tested more, with the Dutchman thwarting Forestieri with another sharp stop before the interval, as the Owls pushed again.

Grant came close to an equaliser with a dipping volley that just cleared the bar early in the second half.

But it was a mistake by in the 62nd minute that allowed the visitors to go 2-0 up.

Last man Matt Mills lingered in possession and allowed Forestieri to simply muscle him off the ball.

The Owls forward was quick to pick out his strike partner Hooper, who made no mistake with only de Vries to beat.

Cohen forced a save from Westwood with an angled shot and a whipped cross from substitute Oliver Burke picked out O'Grady, but his header was well blocked, as was Mendes' effort from the rebound.

A rash, high challenge from Bannan on Lichaj in the 76th minute was deemed a straight red card by referee Graham Scott, leaving Wednesday with 10 men.

It did not stop them from adding a third in the 85th minute, as Atdhe Nuhiu flicked the ball to fellow sub Matias, who slid the ball beyond de Vries from 10 yards.

Source : PA

Source: PA