Wednesday take win in Yorkshire derby

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Leeds 0

A Chris Eagles free-kick gave Sheffield Wednesday their first win in seven matches this season as they outplayed Leeds for a deserved victory.

The Yorkshire rivals have had to wait five years to resume hostilities since Wednesday dropped out of the Premiership, and they had to wait 15 minutes longer due to crowd congestion.

Once the game got underway, Wednesday dominated and they went ahead after eight minutes when Shaun Derry conceded a needless free-kick near the left touchline.

Eagles curled it in and the ball nipped inside the far post before Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan could make his move.

Captain Glenn Whelan should have doubled the lead five minutes later when Eagles’ cross fell to him in space, but his shot was deflected wide.

In the 23rd minute, David Graham squandered a superb opening, beating the last man – only to pass to the offside Eagles when he could have gone alone.

Although earlier this week manager Paul Sturrock said he would play ’ugly football’ if it would get results, in his programme notes he emphasised the value of good wing play – and wide men Chris Brunt and particularly Eagles impressed.

Another cross from the Manchester United loan star then caused chaos as Paul Butler allowed the ball to fall for Graham in the goal area – but Sullivan was able to charge down his shot.

After the break, Wednesday looked like picking up where they left off when it took just three minutes for Brunt to pick up Graham in acres of space, only for the frontman to pull his shot woefully wide.

However, Leeds then began to find a way back into the game.

In the 59th minute, Eddie Lewis’ cross was not properly dealt with but when the ball fell for Cresswell he was unable to get a shot away from close range.

Ten minutes later, Wednesday produced one of the best moves of the game, and again it was Eagles pulling the strings.

As they rapidly broke into the Leeds half, Eagles floated in a delightful chipped cross from deep which arrived perfectly for Graham to head towards the top corner.

However, Sullivan was equally brilliant with the save.

It was end to end stuff now as Leeds sought an equaliser. They were beginning to really threaten, and substitute Robbie Blake was inches wide with a shot before Butler headed narrowly over from close range.

Another Leeds substitute was then denied when Wednesday goalkeeper David Lucas tipped over Rob Hulse’s strong header from Gary Kelly’s cross.

In the 80th minute, Brunt rattled the crossbar with a superb dipping left-footed shot from more than 20 yards, having beaten Sullivan all ends up.

The final moments were frantic as four minutes were added following a clash of heads, but Wednesday had done enough to deserve their win.