Owls slaughter Carlton's Stockport with late flurry

Coming up against former Wednesday players in opposition managers is a re-occuring thing for Wednesday these days - and watching them record victories over their former employers has happened all to often. Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing of Stockport County, managed by lanky midfielder Carlton Palmer, would have brought a big smile to the face of Terry Yorath and Wednesday fans alike.

A defeat would have been hugely embarassing for Yorath, who released Palmer just over a month ago as "surplus to requirements". Palmer would've loved nothing more than to have returned and left with three points against the club whom he played over 280 times for. It wasn't to be for the former England international as the Owls ran in five goals to record their biggest win of the season to this point.

Palmer, who put himself on as a substitute early in the second half, watched in horror as his defence, the worst in the division, let in four goals in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Danny Maddix got the ball rolling with a 37th minute header, marking his return to the team with his first league goal for the club.

Half-time: Owls 1-0 Stockport

The Owls didn't score after that until the 70th minute when the home side was awarded a penalty when County keeper Lee Jones brought down Efan Ekoku in the area. Gerald Sibon struck home his seventh of the season from the spot-kick. Moments later the post denied Scot Simon Donnelly his second of the season following some good work from Dutchman Sibon.

Jones had no hope for Wednesday's third coming in the 83rd minute, a poor mistake at the back allowed Owen Morrison to sneak in and round Jones to sidefoot home. Sixty seconds later Wednesday's foreign skipper Trond Egil-Soltvedt struck home his first of the season, and only his second in just under 40 appearances for the Owls.

Efan Ekoku, denied a goal earlier before being brought down by the Hatters keeper, was to also mark his return from injury with a goal. Sibon, again involved, put it on a plate for the Nigerian to tap home. He nearly had two in as many minutes but again the County post was to deny Wednesday.