Sheffield Wednesday full-time report: Aston Villa 1 Owls 2

The strike duo struck during a breathtaking spell early in the second half when three goals went in in the space of 18 minutes and opportunities were coming thick and fast at both ends.

Owls boss Jos Luhukay made five changes to the side that had lost at Nottingham Forest and they paid off as his side climbed to 10th in the table with a deserved victory.

Matias buried his 49th-minute 18-yard shot into the bottom corner after an Adam Reach effort had been blocked, only for John McGinn to equaliser with a Goal-of-the-Season contender five minutes later, his 20-yard volley crashing in off the woodwork.

Tammy Abraham was denied by Cameron Dawson, then Wednesday created a quickfire flurry of chances which eventually culminated in the winner.

Adam Reach set up Fletcher but the centre-forward's shot was saved, Reach played in Matias who saw his effort blocked, before Fletcher headed over a superb cross from that man, Reach, again.

Daniel Pudil cleared off the line from Conor Hourihane for the Owls and Fletcher was foiled by Alan Hutton before finally hitting the target in the 67th minute with a bullet header from Joey Pelupessy's supply.

Wednesday had been the better side in the first half and were close to taking a fourth-minute lead as a spectacular Fletcher overhead kick, following a Barry Bannan corner, went just wide in the fourth minute.

Jack Grealish curled an effort wide for the home side two minutes later while Matias dragged a shot wide for the Owls on the half-hour mark and that was it for attempts on goal until the 43rd minute when Villa's McGinn fired off target.

There were boos from some home fans at half-time, which showed how well the visitors had done in the opening period.

The second half exploded into life and Luhukay's men held out comfortably after the goals.

Wednesday's sold-out away section had erupted at Fletcher's second goal in two games, but that was nothing like the scenes at the end as supporters and players celebrated a famous victory.

 

Villa (4-4-2): Nyland; Elmohamady, Chester, Jedinak, Hutton; Adomah (Bolasie 68), Grealish, Hourihane, McGinn; Abraham, Kodjia (El Ghazi 78). Subs: Bunn, Taunzebe, Whelan, Bree, Bjarnason.

Wednesday (3-5-2): Dawson; Lees, Hector, Pudil; Baker, Bannan, Pelupessy, Reach, Penney; Matias (Joao 82), Fletcher (Nuhiu 78), Subs: Wildsmith, Onomah, Kirby, Preston, Fox.

Goals: McGinn 54 (Villa); Matias 49, Fletcher 67 (Wednesday).

Referee: David Webb (Lancashire).

Attendance: 35,572.

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