Match report: Nottingham Forest 0 Sheffield Wednesday 3

Sheffield Wednesday's reignited their top six push at lacklustre Nottingham Forest as goals from Aiden McGeady, Gary Hooper and Marco Matias secured an emphatic first win in six matches.
Aiden McGeady celebrates his first goal for Sheffield WednesdayAiden McGeady celebrates his first goal for Sheffield Wednesday
Aiden McGeady celebrates his first goal for Sheffield Wednesday

But it was not all positive news for Wednesday as driving force Barry Bannan was sent off in the second half for a hefty foul on Eric Lichaj and is set to face a three match ban.

Pleasing though will be the fact the Owls rediscovered their scoring touch after a three match barren run and the names on the scoresheet.

Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri
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McGeady - with arguably his best performance to date in Wednesday colours - grabbed his first goal for the club with Hooper scoring his first in six.

And Matias came off the bench to net for the first time since August.

Wednesday made their dominance of the first half count as McGeady gave them the lead on the half hour mark.

And they stopped a Forest revival dead when Hooper powered home just after the hour.

Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri
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Matias then smashed in five minutes from time to end any fears Forest may force their way into the game after Bannan was shown a straight red on 76 minutes.

Forest had the game's first effort when David Vaughan marched into space and drilled low from 25 yards with Keiren Westwood gathering easily.

Wednesday had an excellent chance to open the scoring on 11 minutes.

McGeady touched the ball into space for Fernando Forestieri who forced Dorus De Vries into a save with a low drive from the edge of the box before sending a follow up straight back at the Forest keeper.

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After a tight opening 15 minutes Wednesday began to find gaps in the Forest rear guard and were dominating possession.

McGeady worked space for a superb strike from 20 yards which De Vries tipped over dramatically.

And Gary Hooper flicked on a Ross Wallace pass into the box with Kieran Lee latched on and seeing his near post shot deflected narrowly wide.

Ben Osborn hit a dipping shot from distance but Westwood watched it over.

And on the half hour mark Wednesday took a deserved lead.

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Barry Bannan poked through a pass which caught Eric Lichaj wrong-footed and allowed McGeady to power into the box and smash past De Vries from 12 yards.

Wednesday threatened to double their lead as the half wore on.

McGeady went for goal from the corner of the box only to see Hooper's header to take it over the bar.

And Daniel Pudil saw a shot from 25 yards deflect wide after he was played into space by Bannan.

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A McGeady corner was cleared out to Bannan who smashed first time only for De Vries to get down superbly for the save.

Forest's best chance came just before the break when Jorge Grant headed Osborn's cross from point blank range but Westwood snatched the ball out of the air.

Wednesday had the final say of the half however when McGeady flicked into the box for Forestieri who dinked a shot for the far post with De Vries again Forest's saviour.

Forest started the second half brighter and established their best period of possession, pushing Wednesday deeper and deeper.

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But the Owls responded at the ideal time. Forestieri robbed the ball from centre half Matt Mills and charged forward before slipping in a pass to Hooper who struck low under De Vries.

The game was effectively over as a contest with Forest struggling to exert any influence.

Cohen forced a fine reaction save from Westwood at his near post but that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Bannan was then sent off for a bizarre challenge 30 yards from the Forest goal. He went in heavily on Lichaj with referee Graham Scott quick to show red.

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But before Forest could even consider trying to spark a nervy finish, substitute Matias powered through a challenge inside the box and smacked low into the far corner to wrap up an emphatic win.

Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Mills, Mancienne, Cohen (Walker 82), Gardner (Tesche 66), Vaughan, Mendes, Grant (Burke 56), Osborn, O'Grady. Subs not used: Jokic, WIlson, Evtimov, McDonagh

Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Pudil, McGeady (Matias 73), Lee, Bannan, Wallace (Lopez 67), Forestieri, Hooper (Nuhiu 79). Subs not used: Price, Turner, Hunt, Joao.

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)

Attendance: 20,690 (1,841 away)