Nationwide League: Man City lead Wednesday at break

Man City 2, Sheff Wed 0 (half-time)

Manchester City’s promotion push was given a boost as goals from Kevin Horlock and Darren Huckerby gave Kevin Keegan’s men a half-time lead against Sheffield Wednesday.

With Wolves eight points clear at the top of the First Division, City went into the match looking to keep up the pressure on the Molineux men against a Wednesday side looking to gain revenge for their 6-2 mauling at Hillsborough earlier this season.

David Johnson almost gave Wednesday the lead in the eighth minute when he got behind the City defence but was denied by Nicky Weaver.

That miss proved costly when Horlock picked up the ball 30 yards out and smashed a superb left foot strike over the head of Kevin Pressman for his fifth goal of the season.

Wednesday pressed for a quick equaliser and almost got one when Shefki Kuqi rose highest at the corner but his header flashed inches wide.

Huckerby then sprinted clear down the left wing and looked set to double City’s advantage but failed to hit the target, before Kuqi shot wide for the visitors.

Huckerby eventually found the target shortly after and made up for his earlier misses by doubling City’s advantage. The striker cut in from the right and from 20 yards fired a left foot shot which gave Pressman no chance.

Shaun Goater should have added a third for City when Eyal Berkovic cut the ball back from the byline - but his weak shot trickled wide.

City should have had the game sewn up just before the break when Berkovic looked poised to score - but he chose to lay the ball off to Sean Wright-Phillips and he was forced to stretch for the ball and shot over the bar.

The player picked up a knock in the process and had to be stretched off.