Brentford 0 Sheffield Wednesday 3

Last updated : 04 October 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Striker Grant Holt scored twice and ex-Bees striker Lloyd Owusu netted the other as Sheffield Wednesday inflicted a first league defeat in six games on Brentford with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Griffin Park.

This was Chris Turner's team’s biggest win of the season and it leaves them well positioned in the Second Division with 12 matches having been played, but for the home team, it was a poor day at the office.

After almost taking the lead in the very first minute through Steven Hunt, Wally Downes' side were then denied an opening goal when the on loan David Lucas produced an acrobatic save to prevent in-form striker Tommy Wright's header from looping under the bar.

However, it was the Owls who did break the deadlock, very much against the run of play, when Holt rose to head in Brian Barry-Murphy's right wing corner six minutes before the break.

And then, in first half stoppage time, the front man took advantage of a dreadful mix-up between Joel Kitamirike and Matt Somner in the Brentford defence to fire home his team's second goal.

The second period was dominated by Wednesday, who really should have scored more than Owusu's powerful 75th minute header, again from another excellent Barry-Murphy corner from the right.

Owusu was given a standing ovation when he left the field to be substituted with six minutes remaining, although by then the majority of the 8,681 spectators had departed the ground.

Indeed, the scoreline could have been even worse for Brentford, as Wednesday hit the woodwork on two separate occasions late on.

Firstly Lee Bromby crashed a header against the crossbar with Paul Smith rooted to his line, and then with two minutes remaining, former Manchester United winger Terry Cooke watched as his brilliant free-kick rebounded to substitute Sungu N’Dumba, who somehow managed to place his header over an unguarded net.

After the match, Brentford manager Downes highlighted that 'the front two worked hard' before lamenting the fact that 'the midfield did not get close enough to support the strikers'.

But he still believes that his side 'didn't get their reward today'.