Owls made to pay at the Madjeski

Wednesday's season took an all familiar turn for the worse today when First Division newbies Reading taught the Owls a lesson at the Madjeski Stadium. The Royals were beaten soundly 3-0 by Derby County on the weekend, but they bounced back to beat Terry Yorath's side 2-1.

For the Owls it's one point from two games, but more worryingly is that they've lost to two teams who have only just been promoted to this division. It's early days ofcourse but Owls fans will find it hard to be discouraged from two disappointing results within four days of the new season.

Salt was rubbed into the wound late in the game when Alan Quinn received his second yellow card of the game, meaning the young Irishman was able to jump in the showers a couple of minutes before his team mates trudged off the field.

Now the Owls must re-group and perhaps re-think their strategy in time for Saturday's trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.

Yorath was unable to make any changes to his starting line-up which meant the out of form Shefki Kuqi was still upfront partnering Gerald Sibon. The Dutchman sent the Owls on their way in the 18th minute with a brilliant 20 yard drive, his first goal of the season, but football is a game of two halves and the second half was a different story.

Jamie Cureton's double strike in the second half turned the tables in favour of the home side. Tony Crane had only been on the field four minutes when he bundled the ball into the net, appearing to be Wednesday's saviour, but instead was booked was supposedly handling the ball into the net. Quinn's dismissal moments later was the final straw.

This report from Sporting-Life:

A superb second half double from Jamie Cureton gave Division One newcomers Reading their first win of the season at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday. Dutch striker Gerald Sibon silenced the Madejski Stadium faithful in the 17th minute with a crisp 20-yard strike. But Cureton equalised within 90 seconds of the second half getting under way before converting the winner in the 77th minute.

Wednesday substitute Tony Crane thought he had rescued a point for the visitors five minutes from the end, but the referee penalised him for hand ball. The match ended on a sour note for the Owls when Alan Quinn was dismissed in time added on for a second bookable offence.

The hosts made a confident start and former Crystal Palace winger John Salako saw plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges. However, it was team-mate Andy Hughes who threatened first when he volleyed over Kevin Pressman's crossbar from 18 yards.

Wednesday were content to sit back and absorb the early pressure while Reading continued to look for any openings. The visitors launched one slick counter-attack in the 10th minute when the industrious Derek Geary crossed for Shefki Kuqi, who headed his effort straight at Phil Whitehead.

The Royals almost took the lead three minutes later when Salako headed the ball across goal but Martin Butler, who appeared yards offside, leant back and directed his volley over the bar. But the opening goal soon followed in the 17th minute thanks to Sibon's super strike. The Dutchman skipped away from two challenges before smashing the ball into the opposite corner from 20 yards.

The visitors were now very much in the ascendancy and summer signing Jon Beswetherick had a chance from inside the penalty area but miscued his left-foot volley. Craig Armstrong whipped over a dangerous cross in the 30th minute and Kuqi fired a volley across goal which narrowly missed the post with Whitehead beaten.

Reading tried to apply some pressure of their own but Pressman was equal to Nicholas Shorey's curling free-kick in the 32nd minute. Reading were unable to force home an equaliser before the break, but their spirits were lifted just 90 seconds after the restart when Cureton scored the equaliser. The former Bristol Rovers striker was in the right place to convert substitute Sammy Igoe's neat pass.

The Owls were the width of a post away from retaking the lead when the impressive Sibon powered a header against the woodwork following good work by Quinn. Both teams pushed forward in search of a winner and Quinn almost provided it when he forced a superb finger-tip save from Whitehead. But it was Cureton who fired home what proved to be the winner into the bottom left-hand corner of Pressman's goal.

Half-time: Reading 0-1 Owls