'Struggled' - Sheffield Wednesday player ratings from Oxford United hammering

Teenager Will Grainger scored his first senior goal for Sheffield Wednesday in a thumping 4-1 defeat at Oxford United.

A win for Charlton Athletic and a point for West Brom in the early kick-offs meant that Oxford were relegated before this game got underway at 3pm but they still approached it in a positive manner and were deserved winners.

Will Lankshear put the hosts in front after just five minutes with a cheeky flicked finish at the near post and he grabbed his second just before the half-hour mark with a stunning strike. The 21-year-old almost bagged a hat-trick before the break but he was denied by Pierce Charles.

As for Wednesday, they look tired and their play lacked any tempo as they struggled to keep possession at a sun-soaked Kassam Stadium. Charlie McNeill came closing to pulling a goal back before half-time when his shot hit the outside of the post.

The Owls had the ball in the net early in the second-half but it was ruled out for a foul by Jerry Yates on goalkeeper Jamie Cumming as the visitors started to improve.

But former Wednesday man Will Vaulks lashed in to make it 3-0 with just over 20 minutes remaining to scupper any hopes they had of getting back into the game.

Grainger, just 17, came off the bench to curl in his first senior goal but a minute later Oxford netted a fourth through Myles Peart-Harris.

The Owls’ long wait for a win continues as they finish the season next week at home to West Brom.

Here are our player ratings from the game...

PIERCE CHARLES 6

Back in the line-up after recovering from a knock. He was perhaps caught by surprise by Lankshear’s cheeky opener but he stood no chance with his next goal as he belted one in from distance. Charles stopped it being 3-0 before half-time when he parried away from Lankshear, denying him a first-half hat-trick.

LIAM PALMER 5

One of many who struggled on a tough afternoon for the visitors. Just couldn’t get going at both ends.

DOMINIC IORFA 5

Back in the side but was caught off the pace a touch at the start as Lankshear ran off the back of him before finishing cheekily. Recovered well as he swept up at the back, defended his box and went on a charging run forward which was a bright moment in a very poor first-half for the Owls.

MAX LOWE 5

Not as his usual high standards. Perhaps feeling the effects of a run of games after a lengthy lay-off. Maybe a game too far for him.

SEAN FUSIRE 4

Found it difficult to make much of an impact in both directions and was brought off at half-time.

NATHANIEL CHALOBAH 5

Put his body on the line to make a big block to deny a certain goal which would have made it 2-0. Tidy in spells but couldn’t bring control to this one. Given a breather with 15 to go.

JADEN HESKEY 5

Just like Chalobah, he too made a vital block in front of goal to stop Lankshear grabbing his second. Kept plugging away but couldn’t influence it.

TAYO ADARAMOLA 5

Didn’t get enough contact on his attempted headed clearance in the build-up to the opener. Forced a parry from Cumming down the other end as the first-half entered the latter stages. Got into a threatening position in the box after the break but his touch let him down.

CHARLIE MCNEILL 5

Didn’t get much of a kick for large parts of the the first-half but one cutting ball to Adaramola caught the eye and he struck the post just before the break. Off on 65.

JAMAL LOWE 5

Had Wednesday’s first shot on target on 30 minutes but it was a fairly comfortable save for Cumming. That was as close as he came.

JERRY YATES 5

Once again didn’t get much service. One shot whistled past the post early after the break but that was as good as it got.

MACKENZIE MALTBY 6

The youngster, 21, replaced Fusire at the break to make his Championship debut and he stood up to the challenge reasonably well, making a couple of good interventions in his own area.

WILL GRAINGER 7

On for McNeill for the last 25 and he curled in a fantastic finish for his first senior goal. A wonderful moment for the 17-year-old.

JARVIS THORNTON N/A

On Chalobah on 76.

OLAF KOBACKI N/A

Replaced Yates for the last 15.

DEVLAN MOSES N/A

On M.Lowe in added-time.