Match Report: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Derby County

Derby County's 2022/23 season was brought to an end after a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

A first half penalty from Michael Smith what saw skipper Curtis Davies given his marching orders was enough to hand the hosts all three points on the day.

The result, as well as Peterborough United's 2-0 success at Barnsley, saw them leapfrog Derby into sixth place - meaning the Rams missed out on a play-off place.

Major Moments

Despite Wednesday having the better of the opening stages in terms of possession, it was the Rams that had the best chance to take the lead in the opening 15 minutes through David McGoldrick.

The striker worked a yard on the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful strike that Cameron Dawson had to be at full stretch to tip over the bar for a corner.

Barry Bannan had a speculative effort go high and wide with the home side's first attempt on goal as both teams continued to create very little in the opening half-an-hour.

Just as the half was drawing to a close. the game turned dramatically on its head as the home side were awarded a penalty and Davies was handed a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Smith stepped up and sent goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith the wrong way to put Wednesday in front and give the Rams a mountain to climb.

Paul Warne's side did nearly equalise right on the stroke of half-time through McGoldrick. A ball was only half cleared by the Wednesday defence and with Dawson off his line, the Rams' top scorer went for a cheeky lob which was brilliantly tipped over by the goalkeeper.

The second-half began with the home side well on top and they nearly doubled their lead through Will Vaulks who bent an effort onto the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Bannan then went close when he curled one just wide from the edge of the area as the Owls ramped up the pressure.

Derby weren't giving up and were inches away from equalising when Max Bird had an effort cleared off the line. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing did well bursting down the middle and played in Bird who hit it first time and his strike beat the goalkeeper but couldn't beat the Wednesday defender on the line.

The hosts hit the woodwork for the second time when Liam Palmer got in down the right and struck a fierce effort off the outside of the post.

Derby had to throw everything at it in the final five minutes and that they did.

McGoldrick had an effort tipped around for a corner and substitute Lewis Dobbin had one saved at the near post as the Rams searched desperately for an equaliser that would have taken them into the play-offs.

Five minutes of additional time were signalled and with the Posh winning, Derby simply had to find a goal.

There was no denying the effort from the ten men of the Rams but it simply wasn't to be and the 2022/23 Sky Bet League One season drew to a close.

The Teams

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson (GK), Palmer (78' Hunt), Brown, Vaulks, Iorfa, Bannan (C) (78' Bakinson), Paterson, Dele-Bashiru (84' Durrant), Johnson, Smith (64' Windass), Flint

Substitutes not used: Stockdale (GK) Glover, James

Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane (74' Collins), Cashin, Bird (70' Dobbin), McGoldrick, Mendez-Laing (70' Barkhuizen), Roberts, Sibley (44' Smith), Davies (C), Knight (74' White)

Substitutes: McGee (GK), Rooney