Stoke cruise to win at stricken Sheff Wed

Million Manhoef's shot beat Pierce Charles at his near post in the first minute of the game

A goal in the first minute of each half helped Stoke take the points at troubled Sheffield Wednesday, whose fans protested against Dejphon Chansiri's ownership of the club outside the ground before the Championship game.

With wages paid late for three successive months and the club under registration embargoes, some home fans gathered in nearby Hillsborough Park before their first home game of the season and a mock funeral procession with a coffin emblazoned with the club's colours took place.

Inside the ground, Owls fans blew whistles when the game started and, as an announcement was read out over the tannoy asking them to stop, the away side took the lead through Million Manhoef's low strike.

Stoke doubled their lead just after the second half started when Ben Wilmot's ball forward from defence caught the home side out and Sorba Thomas beat Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles to it before Divin Mubama headed into an empty net.

Thomas claimed his second assist when he raced onto a ball into the inside left channel and sent in a low cross for Manhoef to bundle in at the back post.

That ended the match as a contest and although the home side battled on gamely this match felt like a stark reminder of where a summer of chaos has left them.

The haves and have nots

This was Wednesday's first home game in just shy of four months and shone a stark light on what a difference a summer can make.

Despite dropping off in the final few games, the Owls finished six places and seven points above the Potters last season.

That was before Wednesday's wretched summer though.

In contrast to the beleaguered South Yorkshire side, Stoke enjoyed a full pre-season schedule under experienced boss Mark Robins and added quality to their group with Wales international Thomas and Manchester City loanee Mubama, both of whom were excellent at Hillsborough.

Wednesday, meanwhile, were unable to add a single signing because of registration restrictions and saw several key senior players leave.

Just as they had in the opening day defeat at Leicester, they battled gamely and Liam Palmer and Barry Bannan both forced smart saves from Viktor Johansson, the latter with an acrobatic overhead kick.

That was as good as it got for them and Stoke, who have gone top of the table having won both of their opening games with three goals in each match, won at a canter.

In a much more open looking division than previous years the Potters will feel they are well placed to challenge in the top half.

New Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen will hope for some resolutions to their off-field problems sooner rather than later.

What's next?

Stoke face a trip to relegated Southampton next Saturday, while Wednesday visit Wrexham, another side who have lost their opening two league games.

'Still room for improvement' - reaction

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It was a tough beginning, but we came back into the game well, were well organised, and had good intensity in our pressing.

"I thought we could get something from the game at half-time, but we conceded again early after the break. We had more chances after that but then they got a third and that was too much.

"We had 15 shots and 10 on target so we showed we can have that intensity and compete, but we need more training time, so we can train how we want to play at the weekend.

"Everything so far has been a good learning for the boys. We are doing everything we can to get more players because we need a bigger squad, but we need more games at this level so that the players we do have can get used to playing with this intensity again."

Stoke boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I thought it was a brilliant, hard-fought win, and the three goals don't tell the full story of the game.

"Today was always going to be hard, but we wanted to start quick and that early goal settled everything.

"We spoke about coming out in the second half and getting another goal to see the game off, and we hit the bar and forced their keeper into some good saves too.

"We won 3-0, we have six points and one goal conceded [in two games] but there is still room for improvement. It's very early and we have played two teams who are tough to play against, but it will need to be better."