JUST JOR DROPPING

DARREN MOORE finally had lift-off in the Owls‘ battle to beat the drop thanks to a timely double from striker Jordan Rhodes.

The experienced forward’s goals also placed a spanner in the works for what had been a Barnsley charge into one of the promotion play-off spots.

It was a real turn around in the fortunes of these two clubs with vastly contrasting agendas in a scrappy and feisty South Yorkshire derby.

While Valerien Ismael’s side didn’t turn up after an inspirational run of nine wins in 10 games, Moore (right) savoured every moment of his first victory in charge of Sheffield Wednesday at his fifth attempt.

He said:

“What has gone on before has gone on and I’ve said it was a clean slate when I came in. As long as they keep giving us that and showing the will to improve then I’m happy.

“Feeling the adulation today of that three points is really important to them. Now it’s about working hard in the two weeks of the international break.”

Moore also had to overcome the blow of losing first-choice keeper Kieran Westwood during the warm-up, Joe Wildsmith deputising. Apart from a 79th-minute deflected strike from sub Carlton Morris which gave Barnsley false hope and an early scare when Michael Sollbauer missed a golden opportunity he was mainly encamped on Easy Street.

Rhodes seemed an unlikely hero after making a hash of an opening presented to him by nervy home keeper Brad Collins.

He missed a hopeful through ball from Julian Borner as Rhodes came charging through only for the striker to prod wide.

But the Owls made amends just before the break as Moore’s side once again made a nonsense of their lowly league position. Barry Bannan burst to the byline and his decisive cross was met with a powerful header from Rhodes.

As a frustrated Ismael rang the changes making three substitutions at half-time the visitors visibly grew in confidence.

They were rewarded with Rhodes’ second goal – owed to a crunching challenge on Callum Styles by Liam Palmer.

Josh Windass, whose energy and running was a major component of this victory, then took over, setting up Rhodes for a comfortable side-footed finish

Ismael said: “This break has come at a good time for us. We have time to recover and reset for our final important eight games.”