Sheffield Wednesday 3 (Esajas 19, Johnson 21, 54) Rochdale 0 – Full Time Report

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Will Buckley takes on Darren Purse.

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Rochdale were comfortably beaten by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Wednesday struck two goals in two minutes midway through the opening half as first Etienne Esajas hit a wonder goal from twenty-five yards and then Jermaine Johnson rounded two defenders to score. The win was sealed in the second when Johnson lobbed a finish over the advancing Kenny Arthur.

Keith Hill made one change from the side that drew at Port Vale, Marcus Holness coming in for Scott Wiseman at right back, and the young defender was tested early on by the pace Jermaine Johnson. The lightning quick winger cut into the box and fired the ball in low but Marcus Tudgay could only guide it into the hands of Kenny Arthur.

Dale didn't let Wednesday's bright start phase them and they soon settled into proceedings. They created a chance of their own as Will Buckley's pace allowed him to spring the offside trap and drill a low shot past the far post.

The entertaining nature of the opening 15 minutes continued and the home side should have opened the scoring as again Johnson caused a threat. This time his pull back was perfect for Tommy Miller to rifle home from 14 yards. Arthur did well to save with his legs but the Wednesday midfielder should have given his side the lead.

Wednesday were good value for their lead when it arrived in spectacular fashion. There was nothing Dale could do as Craig Dawson's defensive header fell kindly for Etienne Esajas who lashed a wonderful volley from fully twenty-five yards that dipped over Arthur and into the net.

One quickly became two as Johnson evaded two Dale challenges eight yards out and then couldn't miss with the rifled finish; a goal that the striker's bright start had deserved and if Dale couldn't somehow get to grips with the striker then the home side were in danger of having a field day.

The striker was at the heart of everything Wednesday did right and but for another fine save from the feet of Arthur he would have had a brace within the opening half hour. The rangy striker rolled his man in the box and drilled a low shot destined for the near bottom corner before Athur turned it behind.

Dale should have got themselves back in the tie just before half time. A well worked move involving Tom Kennedy and Adam Rundle enabled Gary Jones to burst into the box and cross low for Buckley. Darren Purse got in to block in front of the striker but the ball popped up for Dagnall who should have buried it rather than find the strong palm of Lee Grant.

Wednesday surrendered a two goal lead at home to Barnsley on Saturday but there was no sign that that would happen here. Miller came within inches of a third at the start of the second half as he skewed a shot across goal. The match clinching goal wasn't long in coming as Johnson stole between two defenders and Arthur came a long way for a ball he was never going to get and the striker grabbed his second with a calm lob over the keeper.

Dale were mostly chasing shadows for the remainder as the home side appeared to settle for what they had; a place comfortably sealed in the second round of the cup. Francis Jeffers came close to a fourth for the home side but his free header was kept out superbly by Arthur at full stretch.

There was one moment worthy of note for Dale fans in the second half, a professional debut for youth team player Josh Brizell, who entered the fray in place of the injured Holness.

Attendance: 6696.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Spurr (Hinds 59), Purse, Miller, Tudgay (Jeffers 59), McAllister, Esajas, Potter, Beevers, Simek, Johnson (Gray 70).
Subs (not used): O'Donnell, Wood, O'Connor, Boden.

Rochdale: Arthur, Holness (Brizell 73), T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, J. Kennedy, Jones, Thompson, Rundle (Shaw 52), Dagnall, Buckley (Higginbotham 52).
Subs (not used): Edwards, Sheriff, Flitcroft, Brown.

Booked: T. Kennedy.

Attempts (on target): Sheff Weds 16 (10) Rochdale 6 (2)
Free kicks: Sheff Weds 12 Rochdale 12
Offside: Sheff Weds 5 Rochdale 4
Corners: Sheff Weds 3 Rochdale 2

Referee: C. Sarginson.