Barry is a belter
AINSWORTH SALUTES HOT SCOT
BARRY BANNAN turned coldhearted killer to send Wednesday third and ruin Gareth Ainsworth’s anniversary.
The Wycombe boss described Scotland international Bannan as “a Premier League player” after he helped to end the Owls’ run of three home games without a win.
Rock fan Ainsworth, who fronts a band called the Cold Hearted Lovers, was celebrating 10 years in the Wycombe hotseat – but Bannan’s strike took the edge off the day.
“Keeping someone like Bannan quiet is a hard job,’’ said Ainsworth.
‘‘He’s one of the best-paid players in the league for a reason – he’s a Premier League player and he runs the show sometimes.
‘‘The day has been fantastic. I had Mauricio Pochettino and Sir Alex Ferguson message me to congratulate me on 10 years. Things like that make it nice, but the better team won.”
Wednesday got off to a flying start as wing-back Marvin Johnson sent over a telling cross and, with Michael Smith set to pounce, Chairboys skipper Joe Jacobson turned it past his own keeper with just 38 seconds on the clock.
The visitors levelled after Anis Mehmeti went on a dazzling run to
VOKES 10 brilliantly set up Sam Vokes for his first goal of the season.
But Wycombe’s dogged resistance crumbled on 32 minutes after Lee Gregory freed his strike partner Smith, whose cross was rammed home by Bannan.
Callum Paterson scored in stoppage time to seal the win – to leave Owls boss Darren Moore delighted.
He said: “The front two, Gregory and Smith, played really well. They gave us a target to hit and gave us a platform to build on.
‘‘The way Smudger (Smith) used his body to get the team up the pitch was absolutely superb.
“I told the players afterwards that they more or less played the perfect game in terms of in possession of the ball and off it. Overall, it was a well deserved win.” SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Stockdale 6; Ihiekwe 6, Heneghan 6, James 6, Palmer 6; Bannan 8 (Paterson (90) 7), Vaulks 6, Johnson 7, Windass 7 (Bakinson (89) 6); Gregory 7 (Wilks (80) 6), Smith 8 WYCOMBE: Stryjek 6; Grimmer 5, Mawson 6, Tafazolli 6, Jacobson 5 (Forino (90) 6); Wing 6 (Freeman (78) 6), Gape 6; Mccarthy 6 (Obita (90) 6), Horgan 5 (Al-hamadi (78) 6) Mehmeti 7; Vokes 7 STAR MAN: Michael Smith. Led the line brilliantly. REF: Matthew Donohue 7