Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night | John Swift scores first-half winner for Baggies.
Wednesday 4 October 2023 00:17, UK
Sheffield Wednesday manager Xisco Munoz came under increased pressure after a 1-0 defeat against West Brom at The Hawthorns.
An eighth loss left the Owls with their worst ever start to a season from the first 10 games of the Sky Bet Championship season, and they are already seven points adrift of the safety line.
John Swift's 13th-minute goal settled the match with the Owls having now gone 312 minutes without a goal, with their only points so far coming from draws against Middlesbrough and at Leeds.
But it could have been different if Juan Delgado and Tyreeq Bakinson had converted early chances for the visitors.
Not surprisingly, Munoz rang the changes - seven - from Friday night's 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland, with a return to a 4-4-2 formation.
It mattered little as West Brom dominated the game of few opportunities as their fifth game unbeaten saw them climb to fifth.
Carlos Corberan's side started by forcing numerous corners and crosses from which the recalled Brandon Thomas-Asante and Kyle Bartley missed the target with headed half-chances.
West Brom took the lead in the 13th minute with a goal of classic simplicity. Darnell Furlong played the ball down the right, Akin Famewo missed the chance to cut it out and Jed Wallace crossed low for Swift to sweep it high into the net from six yards.
Swift's fifth goal of the season soon had the near 2,000 Wednesday fans calling for Munoz's head but just after the goal, the Owls created two excellent chances.
The sliding Delgado missed Ashley Fletcher's cross from point-blank range, then Bakinson's curling shot heading for the top corner was clawed away by goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
Matt Phillips should have done better from Furlong's cut-back but got caught in two minds and the opportunity was gone.
Okay Yokuslu's low shot following a scramble then Swift's free-kick from out wide were both tipped away by goalkeeper Devis Vasquez as West Brom pressed for a second goal.
Wednesday remained in the game and Fletcher's angled shot was blocked by the chest of Palmer.
The second half took a while to produce a goalmouth incident, with Wednesday mopping up various Albion attacks.
Dangerman Swift went closest when his curling shot dipped just over the bar from 25 yards after he cut inside.
The Baggies dominated but were their own worst enemies as they overplayed in front of goal rather than opting to shoot.
West Brom's Carlos Corberan:
"You change the feeling and change the game when you score from the opportunities you have.
"It was difficult to combat them from the set-pieces because they had a very physical team and when we won the second balls in the set-pieces, we couldn't score the second goal to change the game.
"After one second ball and one set-piece, it led to two big opportunities that led Alex (Palmer) to achieve the clean sheet and the three points."
Sheffield Wednesday's Xisco Munoz:
"I understand the fans and I can only say sorry because it's tough for everybody. But as a manager, I can say we will continue until my last second.
"This is my life and I try to give my best to my players until my last minute."
"We need to continue trying to find what is better for us, we need to find which players we can use for the next game, what can hurt the opponent and how we can make better of these situations.
"We played against a difficult style and a good team but the difference was nothing."
