Sheffield Wednesday Triumphs 4-2 Over Derby County in Championship Showdown
In a dazzling display that will echo around the terraces, Josh Windass netted a jaw-dropping goal from deep inside his own half, propelling Sheffield Wednesday to a resounding victory over Derby County in the Championship.
After collecting the ball in his own defensive third, Windass unleashed a sublime shot that sailed over Rams goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from a staggering 60 yards. It was a goal that will surely be whispered about in football folklore for seasons to come.
In addition to Windass’s sensational strike, contributions from Barry Bannan, Djeidi Gassama, and Anthony Musaba sealed the deal for the Owls, as Jerry Yates and Ebou Adams provided mere consolation for the visitors.
Prior to the match, Windass had expressed a tangible “need” for his side to open the scoring after succumbing to a disappointing 3-1 loss at Preston North End on Sunday, a match that marked their second consecutive outing conceding three goals.
His plea was answered when Bannan, the former Scotland international, broke the deadlock at Hillsborough within the first 10 minutes.
The Rams’ defensive frailties were laid bare as Gassama, demonstrating electric pace down the wing, exploited the slow-footed Sonny Bradley, feeding Shea Charles whose low, driven cross gave Bannan a simple task at the back post.
Despite a rocky start, Derby showed resilience and began to forge a path back into the match, testing Owls keeper Jack Beadle with efforts from Kane Wilson and Nat Phillips.
Yates, however, squandered an excellent opportunity to equalize, striking the post from a pinpoint Kenzo Goudmijn delivery just before the interval, a missed chance that would haunt the Rams.
At halftime, Owls manager Danny Rohl opted for tactical changes, introducing Windass along with 19-year-old defender Gabriel Otegbayo.
Then came the moment of magic just after the hour mark when Windass scored one of the most astonishing goals the Championship has ever witnessed. He took a touch, noticed Zetterstrom’s positioning, and executed a perfectly weighted lob that left the keeper stranded.
Soon after Windass’s stunning strike, Gassama was rewarded for his tireless efforts as he capitalized on a deft pass from Svante Inglesson, racing through on goal to fire a precise shot across Zetterstrom into the bottom right corner.
On-loan Swansea striker Yates redeemed himself by slotting in Derby’s first of the afternoon, but Musaba swiftly restored the four-goal cushion for Wednesday, scoring from a rebound after his own effort was saved.
Ebou Adams did manage to find the back of the net in stoppage time, but it served as a mere footnote in a heavy defeat for the Rams.
With this emphatic victory, Sheffield Wednesday now finds themselves just three points shy of the coveted play-off spots, while Derby remains four points above relegation, a precarious position that demands urgent improvement.
After the match, Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl candidly shared his thoughts with BBC Radio Sheffield:
“I said to him [Windass] before the game ‘Josh I need you’, especially for the second half, and he did exactly what we needed.
“He’s in great form at the minute. He performed well, he scored nearly from every situation; this is outstanding.
“My job is to manage him a little bit, protect him and I think it was helpful he gives us in the second half immediately a lift and control.
“All in all, big credit to my team compared to the situation last year. I think this is outstanding at the moment.”
Conversely, Derby County defender Craig Forsyth expressed his disappointment in the aftermath to BBC Radio Derby:
“It’s really disappointing coming away from home and losing four goals, especially conceding so early.
“That put us on the back foot, and we had to come out. Those were just bad goals really, first and foremost.
“It’s something we can’t continue, and we’ve got to put a stop to it.”
