Sheff Wed: Weaver, Simek, Coughlan, Diallo, Heckingbottom (O'Brien, 71), Partridge (Agbonlahor, 75), Whelan, Rocastle, Brunt, Murphy, Graham (McGovern, 71). Subs Not Used: Corr, Wood.

City: Simonsen, Halls, Hoefkens, Duberry, Broomes, Chadwick (Henry, 78), Brammer, Russell, Gallagher, Sigurdsson (Sidibe, 45), Bangoura (Buxton, 90).Subs Not Used: De Goey, Kolar.

The Potters went some way to making amends for their midweek home defeat by taking all three points at Hillsborough - their third consecutive win on the road.

Sammy Bangoura's sixth goal in seven matches gave them a first-half lead before Mamady Sidibe's first in fourteen wrapped up the game in the 86th minute.

If City considered themselves unfortunate to lose against Derby four days earlier, then the Owls will be left thinking they had enough of the play and pressure to take at least a point here.

They certainly created chances, but a combination of fine goalkeeping from Steve Simonsen and poor finishing foiled them.

City made three changes after the previous Tuesday's disappointment, bringing in Hannes Sigurdsson, Dave Brammer and Marlon Broomes for Mamady Sidibe, Karl Henry and Lewis Buxton respectively.

Broomes was soon in action with an athletic fourth minute clearance following Steve Simonsen's marvellous save to prevent loanee Daryl Murphy opening his Wednesday account after finding himself all alone behind City's worryingly-square defence.

The save, described after the match by Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock as "world class", was decisive.  Had Sheffield scored, their anxiety would have been calmed and the game would surely have taken a different turn.

In the ninth minute, the City 'keeper followed up his good work to dive to his left to get a vital outstretched hand to Chris Brunt's free-kick as the Owls made a sprightly start.

City meanwhile hadn't forced a save out of Nicky Weaver before taking a shock lead after sixteen minutes. 

Carl Hoefkens launched a long high ball down the middle, probably more in hope than expectation.   As the ball landed on the edge of the penalty area, the Sheffield defence hesitated, but Sammy Bangoura, again showing superb awareness and stealth, was onto the ball in a flash, arriving before Weaver to nudge the ball past him and into the vacant net.

This man steals goals from under defenders' noses faster and more craftily than the Artful Dodger picked pockets.

He almost doubled his tally two minutes later when he seized onto a mistake by Chris Brunt , but his shot from twelve yards was blocked by Weaver and ran away for a corner.

Wednesday would have considered themselves unlucky to be a goal down.  Paul Heckingbottom put a header just over the bar from a thirty-fourth minute free-kick, when he should have hit the target but that apart, tdespite their energy, they didn't come close to equalising before the break. 

Too much scrappy play from City prevented many flowing moves as Wednesday were quick into the tackle and broke up play effectively.

The lesson from the last two games has been that one goal isn't enough.  Would the same apply again?

For much of the second half, the answer seemed to be  "yes".

Sidibe replaced Sigurdsson but the home side began the second period brightly with Brunt and Whelan forcing good saves out of Simonsen and Murphy twice breaking forward threateningly.

Brunt then headed wide from a right-wing cross from Richie Partridge as City were continually pegged back.

An equaliser looked inevitable on the hour but Murphy's shot passed inches wide of the far post when he was set up down the left flank.

City briefly punctuated the pressure with a free-kick from Dave Brammer which was met by Broomes but Weaver saved at the second attempt.

The Potters desperately needed to keep possession more to slow down the Owls' tempo, and a rare City attack ended with a free-kick from Dave Brammer which was volleyed just over by the alert Bangoura as City looked to score on the break.  It was a warning to the Owls of what was to come.

Sturrock then made three substitutions for the final quarter of the game in an attempt to convert the pressure into a goal by switching to 4-3-3.

Subs McGovern and Agbonlahor almost succeeded straightaway but were foiled by another good Simonsen save after a defensive mix-up.

Karl Henry came on for Chadwick as City tried to close things down, and after surviving the pressure it was the substitute who was instrumental in setting up the killer goal with four minutes to go.

With the home side throwing men forward and the left-back substituted, the defence lost its shape in a quick City break, and Henry's perceptive pass sent Gallagher steaming away down the right.  His low cross was converted from close range by Sidibe to end the striker's barren spell and put the game out of Wednesday's reach.

As the home supporters streamed out of the ground, the City fans were left happy but knowing that their side were not at their best against opponents who will have a struggle on their hands to avoid relegation and who clearly lacked confidence in front of goal.

Nevertheless, City's six away wins already this campaign are impressive, even if they still have to play the top teams.  They clearly need to win more at home to challenge seriously for the play-off places, but they have a great chance to improve their record with two consecutive matches at the Britannia coming up.

Bob James