SHEFF WED 4

(Fletcher, 10) (Nuhiu, 60) (Iorfa, 80) (Matias, 87)

ROVERS 2

(Conway, 73) (Bennett, 88)

It was another defensive display to forget for Rovers on the road as they shipped four in defeat at Hillsborough.

Steven Fletcher had the hosts ahead after 10 minutes, a lead doubled by substitute Adthe Nuhiu on the hour mark. 

Rovers saw plenty of the ball and got themselves back in to it when Craig Conway scored with 17 minutes to play. But hopes of a comeback seemed to end when Dominic Iorfa took advantage of more poor marking from a set play.

The Owls added a fourth through Marco Matias, before Elliott Bennett scored his first of the season. 

But Rovers have now lost 10 of their away matches and shipped 42 on the road, more than any other team in the division. 

Rovers showed two changes from the team which beat Wigan with recalls for Joe Rothwell and Corry Evans, while there was a place on the bench for youngster John Buckley.

They were quickly in to their stride and look comfortable on the ball as Bradley Dack dragged a 25-yard effort wide of Keiran Westwood’s post.

Mowbray stuck with the back three that saw Rovers claim a first clean sheet since January against Wigan.

However, the hosts started to pick holes down the sides and it was from the Owls’ right they took a 10th minute lead. Dominic Iorfa’s low cross was missed by Derrick Williams at the near post, with Fletcher nipping in ahead of Tyler Magloire to turn in from close range.

It would have been two had Sam Winnall or Adam Reach been able to get any connection on Rolando Aarons’ cross from the left as Rovers were picked apart down their right.

The giant Michael Hector then saw a header come back off the post as Rovers were having a real wobble defensively, prompting Mowbray to switch to a back four.

That allowed Rovers to regain some control of the ball. With Rothwell and Dack looking to link up at every possible opportunity they were neat and tidy in possession, but struggling for penetration in the final third.

Though Dack did go close to an equaliser on the half hour mark when after Rothwell was involved with a foot chase with Dominic Iorfa, the ball looked to have ran kindly for Dack, but on the stretch, he couldn’t find the necessary contact to turn beyond Westwood.

Much of the game was being played in the Wednesday half, as Rovers took control of possession. Dack was becoming more and involved, and drew a smart save from Westwood away to his left after good work by Bennett.

Rovers were doing a lot right, not least their ability to win the ball back, and while seeing of it, were struggling to cause much of a threat in the final third.

And then came their best chance of the match in the  54th minute as Graham found Rothwell out wide before the midfielder returned the favour with a lovely cross, but an unmarked Graham couldn’t find the target with his header.

But a home crowd that was becoming edgy at seeing Rovers dominate the ball found their voices as Wednesday doubled their lead on the hour mark. For Rovers it was a terrible goal to concede as Bannan’s free kick was able to find an unmarked Nuhiu to head in from six yards out.

Home spirits were lifted as Adam Reach tried to catch David Raya off his line from 40 yards, only for it to drift wide.

A Rovers debut for Buckley came in the final quarter, while Adam Armstrong was sent on in attack. Moments before Rovers almost levelled as Tom Lees went sliding in from a Conway cross, but was able to divert over his own crossbar.

There was hope for Rovers though with 17 minutes to play as Craig Conway reduced the arrears. An Armstrong flick allowed Rothwell to break through the Wednesday defence and tee up Conway whose first time left footed finish found the corner.

A Rovers team lacking in height was to fall to another set piece though with 10 minutes to play. A Bannan delivery wasn’t dealt with a turned in, via a deflection, by Dominic Iorfa from six yards out.

Dack was then denied what would have been a deserved goal as his goalbound shot was excellent blocked by Hector.

The Owls added a fourth, one Raya wouldn’t want to see again, as Marco Matias’ weak looking shot, from a Bannan pass, found a way under the body of Raya.

That wasn’t the end of the scoring though. Dack, despite being fouled, held off two men to tee up Bennett who cut inside before lashing in with his right foot for what was his first of the season.

He tried to replicate that moments later as Rovers tried to set up a grandstand finish, but lashed his shot wide.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Iorfa, Hector, Lees, Palmer, Reach, Hutchinson (Pelupessy, 9), Bannan, Aarons, Winnall (Matias, 55), Fletcher (Nuhiu, 58)

Subs: Dawson, Fox, Thorniley, Boyd

Rovers: Raya, Nyambe, Magloire, Williams, Bennett, Reed (Conway, 55), Evans (Buckley, 68), Travis, Rothwell, Dack, Graham (Armstrong, 68)

Subs: Leutwiler, Smallwood, Brereton, Nuttall