Ike Ugbo netted his inaugural two goals for Sheffield Wednesday as they overcame fellow Championship relegation contenders Birmingham City at Hillsborough. The significant January loan acquisition from French top-flight outfit Troyes found the net once in each half, securing Danny Rohl's team a crucial initial victory in seven matches.
Despite the triumph, which marks only the Owls' seventh win in 31 games this season, they find themselves still entrenched in 23rd place, trailing safety by a mere five points.
Tony Mowbray, the Blues' manager, commenced his tenure with four points from his initial two league fixtures in charge. However, he has now suffered three consecutive away defeats, including the 3-0 FA Cup elimination at Leicester, followed by losses against West Bromwich Albion and the lackluster performance witnessed in this encounter.
Despite Blues creating more chances in each of these matches, their persistent defensive frailties proved costly on this occasion.
The visitors enjoyed superiority in the early exchanges, and it was during this period of vulnerability that Wednesday seized the lead in the 15th minute through their first meaningful attack.
On only his third appearance, another January addition to the Owls' squad, Ian Poveda, who previously scored a decisive goal against Birmingham for Blackpool last season, played a pivotal role once more. This did not come as a surprise to visiting manager Tony Mowbray, who had loaned him at Blackburn two seasons ago and sought to acquire him for Blues last month.
Poveda navigated to the right byeline, delivered a precise pass, and Ugbo, unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box, dispatched a low right-footed strike into the net. Despite their ongoing threat, particularly exemplified by Siriki Dembele's deflected shot and Scott Hogan's narrowly missed header, the visitors failed to equalize.
Ugbo squandered an opportunity to extend Wednesday's lead late in the first half before eventually securing his brace eight minutes into the second period. Marvin Johnson, hailing from Birmingham and with grassroots beginnings, provided a delightful left-wing cross, which Ugbo emphatically converted at the far post, brushing off Lee Buchanan's weak challenge.
While purists might debate the legality of the goal, City struggled to muster a significant response despite numerous attacking alterations.
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