Sheffield Wednesday match report: Leeds United 1 Owls 0

Jordan Rhodes had a second half penalty saved as Sheffield Wednesday fell to a 1-0 defeat at promotion rivals Leeds United.
Leeds United v Sheffield WednesdayLeeds United v Sheffield Wednesday
Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday

The 27-year-old, who will see his loan move converted into a permanent transfer in the summer, was foiled from 12 yards by Robert Green after Sam Hutchinson had been felled by Souleymane Doukara.

It was a soft spot-kick but proved a costly miss for the Owls as their West Yorkshire counterparts claimed maximum points after a 24th minute strike by striker Chris Wood.

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It is the third league match running Wood has scored against Wednesday for Leeds and it took his goal tally to 23 for the season. The New Zealand international was also on target in the reverse fixture when the Whites triumphed 2-0 at Hillsborough back in August.

Elland Road is not a happy hunting ground for the Owls. They have failed to win on any of their last five visits.

For our Owls news and opinion on twitter follow hereHead coach Carlos Carvalhal shuffled his pack for the early Championship kick-off, making two changes to his backline. Jack Hunt was preferred to Liam Palmer at right-back and Morgan Fox returned to the starting line-up after recovering from an ankle injury.

Palmer and Barry Bannan dropped to the substitutes bench, with Adam Reach moving back to his favoured left wing role.

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As for Leeds, whose form in February has been patchy, boss Garry Monk handed first-team recalls to Liam Bridcutt and Souleymane Doukara.

Neither team created any clear-cut chances in the opening skirmishes. It was a typical derby packed full of endeavour but low on quality.

Reach fizzed in a teasing low cross which evaded Jordan Rhodes in the centre before Vincent Sasso came to the Owls' rescue at the other end, hacking away Hadi Sacko's delivery after the lively winger shrugged off the attentions of Fox.

Rhodes, seeking to extend his unbeaten run against Leeds to 11 matches, smartly controlled Hunt's cross but blazed over when well-placed.

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But out of nothing, the hosts went ahead through Wood, who rifled home after Vincent Sasso misjudged Gaetano Berardi's cross. It was poor defending by Wednesday and their appeals for off-side fell on deaf ears.

Sasso became the first player to be yellow carded just after the half hour mark when he unceremoniously brought Wood down near the halfway line.

Wednesday regrouped after going behind but Fernando Forestieri skied a half volley when he should have done better.

Reach was one of the few bright spots for the Owls, who failed to register a single shot on target in the first period. The former Middlesbrough man's cross was spilled by Robert Green but Leeds' defence scrambled the ball away.

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For more news from Hillsborough click hereCarvalhal made a tactical change at half-time, throwing on Callum McManaman for Fox. The West Bromwich Albion wide man was utilised on the left flank and Reach switched to full-back.

But the hosts made a strong start to the second period and Wood raced on to Bridcutt's raking diagonal pass only to curl his effort around Keiren Westwood's far post.

Wednesday were awarded a 53rd minute penalty after Doukara was penalised for bringing down Hutchinson from a corner. Rhodes was thwarted from 12 yards with Green diving to his left to brilliantly keep it out.

Carvalhal's side poured forwards in numbers searching for the leveller and Glenn Loovens headed over Wallace's corner inside the six yard box as they threatened to stage a comeback.

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Wallace was booked for diving after he tumbled to the ground under Kyle Bartley's challenge 25 yards from Leeds' goal.

The Whites always carried a threat going forwards and Eunan O'Kane lashed a shot off target after good play by Pablo Hernandez and Luke Ayling.

Midway through the half, Carvalhal freshened up his forward line, throwing on Barry Bannan and Steven Fletcher at the expense of Almen Abdi and Rhodes respectively.

Bannan tried his luck from long range in the 81st minute but his strike failed to test the reflexes of Green.

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Despite suffering back-to-back league defeats, the Owls remain in sixth position but the result gives Fulham and Norwich City the opportunity to edge closer to them over the weekend.

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi; Bridcutt, O'Kane (Vieira 82); Sacko (Roofe 71), Hernandez (Dallas 86), Doukara; Wood. Substitutes: Silvestri, Cooper, Pedraza, Barrow.

Owls: Westwood; Hunt, Sasso, Loovens, Fox (McManaman HT); Wallace, Hutchinson, Abdi (Bannan 68), Reach; Forestieri, Rhodes (Fletcher 68). Substitutes: Wildsmith, Winnall, Palmer, Semedo.

Attendance: 35,093

Referee: Michael Jones (Chester)