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Championship
Aug 30, 2014 at 12.15pm UK
 
Nottingham Forest logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-1)
Lansbury (37')

Live Commentary: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Nottingham Forest - as it happened

Find out how top-of-the-table Nottingham Forest ended Sheffield Wednesday's unbeaten start to the season while extending theirs to five games.
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Two of the three remaining unbeaten sides in the Championship - Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest - met in the lunchtime kickoff of gameweek five in the second tier.

Forest started the weekend top of the table and extended their lead at the summit with a 1-0 win at Hillsborough.

Find out how the game unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Morning all! The first game of the weekend in England takes place at Hillsborough as Wednesday host Forest in a battle of two of the most impressive sides so far this season. Half an hour until kickoff, so let's get straight to it...

FOREST XI: Darlow; Hunt, Hobbs, Mancienne, Lichaj; Antonio, Cohen, Reid, Burke; Lansbury; Assombalonga

FOREST SUBS: De Vries, Fryatt, Veldwijk, Lascelles, Tesche, Osborn, Fox

That's two changes for Forest from their 4-0 hammering over Reading last week. Eric Lichaj replaces Dan Harding at the back, while Henri Lansbury is chosen ahead of Matty Fryatt further forward.

WEDNESDAY XI: Westwood; Palmer, Loovens, Lees, Mattock; Maguire, Semedo, Coke, Maghoma; May, Nuhiu

WEDNESDAY SUBS: Kirkland, McCabe, Helan, Zayatte, Corry, Madine, Hope

The hosts, meanwhile, go with the same XI that beat Middlesbrough impressively last weekend. New loan signing Hallam Hope from Everton is on the bench.

Both sides were in action during midweek, continuing their unbeaten starts to the season by progressing to the third round of the Capital One Cup. Wednesday edged out newly-promoted Premier League side Burnley, while Forest got the better of fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town.

REFEREE WATCH! The man in charge today is Graham Salisbury, who is taking charge of his fifth match this season.

Forest are unbeaten in their last seven meetings against Wednesday. They last met at the City Ground, when it finished as a 3-3 draw. Let's hope for the same again!

One of the main talking points ahead of this game has been the return of Michail Antonio to Hillsborough. The winger moved to Forest this summer and has got off to a flying start under Stuart Pearce.

Michail Antonio of Nottingham Forest heads past Tom Smith of Huddersfield during the Capital One Cup Second Round match on August 26, 2014© Getty Images

PREDICTION TIME! It should be a great game and I think by the end both sides will still be unbeaten - 1-1.

KICKOFF! We're underway in sunny South Yorkshire as two of the remaining three unbeaten sides in the Championship clash.

CHANCE! What a start from the home side! Palmer is slipped in down the inside-right channel and could shoot, but instead tries to square for May in the middle. It would have been a tap-in for the summer signing, but Mancienne got back brilliantly to clear the danger.

Moments later the Owls have another opening as Lees finds space in the box and looks for the far corner, but sidefoots too close to Forest keeper Darlow. Fantastic start by Wednesday, but will they regret not taking one of these openings?

Forest have grown into the game a little more since that early barrage, but they're yet to really create an opening. Former Owl Antonio looks the most dangerous player in red at the moment.

SHOT! First opening for the visitors and it comes from in-form Assombalonga, who does a step-over to beat his man before firing a left-foot shot low. It's well-hit, but close enough for Westwood to hold.

Wednesday go up the other end and strike partnership Nuhiu and May work the ball well on the edge of the box before feeding out to Maguire on the right. His deep cross is searching for Nuhiu, but is just a bit heavy for the tall striker who scored two goals and set up the other in last week's win over Boro.

CLOSE! Antonio looks like he has run out of ideas on the edge of the box, but then digs out a cross that is just inches away from the completely-unmarked Assombalonga in the middle. End-to-end stuff at Hillsborough now!

After that electric start, it's been a bit of a drab last few minutes. Neither side has done anything in either box. Take a breather and start attacking again soon, eh?

With little happening on the field, why not quickly watch our video preview of the game below:


BOOKING! The first yellow card of the game is shown to Wednesday midfielder Semedo, who clattered Andy Reid late and high. Definitely a yellow and some referees might have even felt it was worthy of a red.

SHOT! Wednesday threaten for the first time in a quarter of an hour through Maghoma, who cut in from the left and fired a dipping drive at goal. Darlow didn't try to hold it and almost pushed it out to a blue-and-white shirt.

Superb delivery from the left wing by Lansbury that somehow doesn't get a touch and bobbles out for a Wednesday goal kick. Assombalonga, oddly, didn't really go for it and then Burke was muscled out at the back post.

Nuhiu wins the ball off Mancienne high up the pitch and then tries one trick too many when he should have squared to either May or the free Maguire arriving at the back post.

BOOKING! One-all on the card count now as Antonio takes a swipe at Maguire's calf. Definite frustration from the former Owl there after Maguire won the ball off him twice in quick succession.

BOOKING! Loovens in yellow-carded for a trip on Lansbury, who had flicked the ball around him and was looking to charge up the pitch. That's booking number five for the season already and he will now miss the Owls' next trip to Bolton Wanderers after the upcoming international break.

BOOKING! Yet another Wednesday name in the book as Mattock is cautioned for grazing his studs down Burke's ankle. The home side need to calm down a little.

Hot-headed five minutes there! The Wednesday fans don't agree with a lot of the decisions and, unsurprisingly, "You don't know what you're doing!" rings around Hillsborough.

GOAL! WEDNESDAY 0-1 FOREST (LANSBURY)

The visitors break the deadlock and it's a beautifully-timed run from Lansbury, who arrives in the box to nod home Antonio's floated cross. There was a stroke of luck in the move when Mancienne's long ball came off Palmer's back and fell kindly for Antonio to put in the first-time cross. Great delivery, though, and a precise finish.

SHOT! Neat build-up from Wednesday down the left and Nuhiu has the space to burst into the box. This time he does get his head up, teeing up Maguire on the edge of the box, but he drags his shot well wide from a great position.

Here was the scene just before kickoff when the two teams were shaking hands. Friendly then, but not so much now after all those hearty challenges!

The fourth official indicates that there will be three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

HALF-TIME: WEDNESDAY 0-1 FOREST

It's Forest who lead at the break then thanks to Lansbury's header in the 37th minute. It was a pretty even opening 45 minutes, but Forest took one of their chances while Wednesday wasted theirs.

As things stand, table-toppers Forest are set to go four points clear at the summit. Obviously it's only early in the season, but Stuart Pearce will be over the moon with how he's started in the Championship. Click here to see how the table currently stands ahead of the rest of the games at 3pm.

Looking at the half-time stats, Wednesday have had more possession with 58% but it's Forest who have looked more dangerous with five shots, four of which were on target. The hosts have had three efforts at goal, two of which tested Darlow.

Here's a snap of Lansbury running away in celebration after seeing his header nestle in the corner of Westwood's net.


KICKOFF! No changes from either manager at the break. Can Wednesday get back in it?

Wednesday win an instant free kick as Nuhiu is fouled, but nothing comes of the delivery.

Here's Maguire and Lichaj battling for the ball in the first half:


A big jeer from the Wednesday fans as Antonio fails to control an easy pass and then falls over when trying to keep it in on the touchline. Former boss Gray helps him up before he cracks a wry smile.

BOOKING! An easy decision for Salisbury to make as Antonio beats Palmer down the left wing before he is chopped down just outside the area. Great position for Forest to deliver now...

Reid's delivery came to nothing and now Wednesday have come closer at the other end. Maguire clipped a cross into the middle where May got up well but could only head high into the hands of Darlow.

How long will Owls boss Gray wait until he makes a change, and who will he bring on? If he needs a goal, he has two strikers on the bench. Gary Madine is more experienced at this level, but new loanee Hallam Hope might be more of a wildcard. The 20-year-old from Everton scored five goals in eight appearances during a brief loan spell at Bury last season.

May beats the offside trap, running onto Mattock's ball over the top before firing high and wide from a tight angle. He had two defenders catching up with him and no-one in support so had to shoot, but couldn't get it on target.

SAVE! May is much closer this time, collecting the ball after some great footwork by Nuhiu. May's first touch wasn't good, but he did well to readjust and get a shot away from 20 yards that was at a good height for Darlow to palm away.

WEDNESDAY SUB: It's Madine who is first thrown on for the Owls and he replaces midfielder Semedo. That now means that Wednesday have three strikers on the pitch - they're going for it.

CHANCES! Wednesday won't come much closer without scoring! Maghoma's corner isn't dealt with by Darlow and Loovens tees up the loose ball for Maguire. He smashes it into the crowded penalty area where Darlow stands up and makes a superb save. Soon the ball is back at Maguire's feet and again he crisply strikes it at goal, but this time is denied by a block by a red shirt. The Owls are knocking on the door.

Forest go up the other end and work Westwood with a decent strike from Lichaj. He was about 30 yards out though so it would have needed to be some strike to beat the former Sunderland stopper.



CHANCE! Reid almost takes advantage of some hesitant Wednesday defending, but his shot from 15 yards is well-blocked by Lees in the area.

FOREST SUBS: A change at the back for the visitors as Hobbs, who has picked up a knock, is replaced by Jamaal Lascelles. Pearce also made his first substitution a couple of minutes ago, taking off goalscorer Lansbury for Robert Tesche.

Time for Gray to send on Hope if you ask me. May is full of effort, but he's not the quickest or the tallest so I think he should be the one to be sacrificed. Nuhiu is still a threat in the air so it would make sense to keep him on.

CLOSE! Tremendous low cross from Mattock and Madine just misses the ball at the near post. The ball flicks up off Lascelles's foot and that takes it just past Nuhiu at the back stick.

SUBS: Changes from both managers, with Antonio's return to Hillsborough ending as he is replaced by Matty Fryatt and Jeremy Helan taking the place of Maguire for the hosts.

Strong run down the right from Nuhiu as he gets the better of Lascelles before digging out a decent cross that Darlow claims on the edge of the six-yard box.

Lichaj is brought down by Coke right on the corner of the box and this is a great chance for Forest to either shoot or cross. Can they go two in front?

Reid crosses to the back post and although Assombalonga gets up well to meet it, he can't keep his header down.

WEDNESDAY SUB: Hope does get his chance from the bench, replacing left-back Mattock. Is it too late for him to make an impact?

"We are top of the league, say we are top of the league," chant the Forest fans high in the away end. They're about to make it four wins out of five this season in the league.

BOOKING! Moments after five minutes of added time are signalled, Burke brings down Hope near the touchline. Great position for Maghoma to deliver from the left...

It's drilled low towards the near post where a red shirt clears away with his head. Poor from the winger.

SAVE! Almost a brilliant equaliser from Nuhiu, whose curling shot was headed for goal when Darlow tipped it over the crossbar.

CLOSE! Huge scramble in the area and Wednesday really will wonder how they haven't scored! A corner isn't cleared and Nuhiu's prod goalwards at the back post is somehow cleared off the line by either Darlow or a defender.

BOOKING! Assombalonga picks up a late yellow for interfering with a Wednesday free kick deep in the Owls' half. This will be the last chance.

FULL-TIME: WEDNESDAY 0-1 FOREST

The visitors pick up yet another win thanks to Lansbury's first-half header. You have to say that they probably didn't deserve it, but Wednesday couldn't take their chances.

Forest are now four points clear at the top of the table and are guaranteed to be top during the upcoming two-week international break. Here's the match-winner celebrating his goal.

Henri Lansbury of Nottingham Forest celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium on August 30, 2014© Getty Images

Anyway, that's all we've got time for here on this commentary. Take a look around site this afternoon for commentaries on every Premier League game and also another game in the Championship as Fulham take on Cardiff City. Enjoy!

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Michail Antonio of Nottingham Forest heads past Tom Smith of Huddersfield during the Capital One Cup Second Round match on August 26, 2014
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