Reading 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Promotion hopefuls coast past 10-man strugglers
- Published
Reading striker Lucas Joao has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season
Relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday fell to a heavy defeat at promotion hopefuls Reading after having defender Julian Borner sent off.
The hosts took the lead when Borner was shown a red card for hauling down George Puscas in the area and Michael Olise scored from the spot.
Ex-Wednesday striker Lucas Joao claimed his 21st goal of the season with a composed finish after being teed up by Andy Yiadom who then rifled in a low third to wrap up the scoring.
Sheffield Wednesday have now lost their past six games and remain seven points adrift of safety.
The game completely turned in the 29th minute when Romania forward Puscas got in behind the Owls defence, Borner shoved him to the ground as he was about to shoot and was sent off for the first time in his career in England.
The visitors never looked like getting back into it and failed to register a single shot on target.
Darren Moore's tough start to life at Hillsborough could get trickier as they host runaway Championship leaders Norwich next Sunday.
In contrast, play-off chasing Reading have now won their past three games and are four points clear of seventh-placed Bournemouth.
Reading manager Veljko Paunovic: "We started the game well and were very good in the press when we had lost the ball.
"There was good running into the box by Puscas and very good execution from Michael [Olise] from the penalty.
"From that moment, we kept playing our football, though it's not always easy playing against 10 men.
"Those teams just sit back and wait for you and then build themselves for the counter-attack against you. This happens every time you play against 10. But being 1-0 up was obviously helpful for us. But we still had to do our homework and do our jobs."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore told BBC Radio Sheffield: "From our perspective, obviously a disappointing afternoon. The pivotal part in the game was the sending off because on the balance of play up until then we were in the ascendency.
"It was like a double blow. To lose him [Borner] and then go a goal down from a penalty is disappointing. I thought the boys were more than well in the game.
"What they have to do is maintain their focus to move on to the next game. What has gone on has gone on, there's nothing we can do to replace that now. What we have got to do is quickly look to the next game."
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