Sheffield Wed. 2 - 0 Huddersfield Town: Ross Wallace inspires Sheffield Wednesday to derby win

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2017 by PA

A sensational goal from Ross Wallace and a close-range finish from Fernando Forestieri gave Sheffield Wednesday a crucial 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Huddersfield.

With both sides jostling for position amongst the Championship's leading bunch, this could prove to be a significant result.

Jack Payne was sent-off for the visitors but they remain well in the picture despite this loss and were on an equal footing until their hosts turned on the heat in the second half.

In fact, they could have gone ahead two minutes in but Nahki Wells headed a back post Tommy Smith cross straight into the arms of keeper Kieren Westwood.

Huddersfield were dominating possession and went close again in the 17th minute as Michael Hefele headed wide from an inswinging Aaron Mooy corner.

The home side struggled to get into the game and it took 27 minutes before they could even muster a shot. Forestieri took on a ball from Barry Bannan on the edge of the box and sliced the ball wide of the goal.

In the 41st minute, Wednesday finally burst to life as Bannan's curling cross from the left hand side was headed over by an onrushing Steven Fletcher.

Minutes later, Elias Kachunga got goal-side of Daniel Pudil and forced the Wednesday player to bring him down right on the edge of the box. From the resulting free-kick, Chris Lowe forced a smart diving save from Westwood.

The introduction of Wednesday's new signing Sam Winnall after the break changed things for the home side and in the 54th minute Wallace opened the scoring with a unstoppable strike from 35 yards into the top-right corner.

In the 65th minute, Forestieri had a penalty claim turned down and then took a neat give and go on the edge of the area and struck the ball wide of keeper Danny Ward's left-hand post.

With 20 minutes to go, Huddersfield were reduced to 10 men as Payne was given a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Wednesday's Sam Hutchinson.

Substitute Joe Lolley came close for Town in the 76th minute after a mazy run and strike forced a save from Westwood. Hefele then tried his luck with a towering header but again Westwood was equal to it.

In the 82nd minute, Winnall cleverly dummied the ball into the path of Bannan but he could only hit the ball straight at the keeper. Hutchinson then tried to emulate Wallace but his effort ballooned harmlessly over the bar.

A last-ditch sliding tackle from Chris Lowe denied Winnall a dream debut in the 84th minute as he was bearing down on goal.

Hefele was pushed upfront in search of an equaliser and was unlucky to see his strike go just wide. Then, Town substitute Mark Hudson blazed over from close range.

In added time, Forestieri sealed the game for Wednesday as he tapped in from close range after substitute Callum McManaman's good work in the box.