Sheffield Wednesday got their campaign off to a flying start with a 4-1 win over Burnley at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday got their campaign off to a flying start with a 4-1 win over Burnley at Hillsborough.
Two goals apiece from Marcus Tudgay and Akpo Sodje helped Brian Laws' men to a resounding opening day win.
Burnley striker Martin Paterson marked his debut with a goal, but it proved to be in vain for the visitors.
Opener
The Owls made a flying start with Tudgay despatching Sodje's ball in from the left into the top corner from 20 yards.
James O'Connor, making his Owls debut against his former club following his summer switch, saw his long-range effort well held.
A little over three minutes into the game Sodje doubled the Owls' advantage, firing home from the edge of the penalty area following Deon Burton's pass.
Burnley pulled a goal back in the sixth minute when Paterson, one of four players making their debuts for Owen Coyle's side, was first to Graham Alexander's cross and headed home into the top corner.
But the Owls restored their two-goal lead in the 17th minute when Sodje converted Jermaine Johnson's left-wing cross from six yards.
Johnson was denied moments later by Burnley goalkeeper Diego Penny, who marked his debut with a flying save to deny the winger's fizzing 20-yard drive.
Blow
The Owls were then dealt an unexpected blow when Sodje limped out of the action with what appeared to be an ankle injury in the 21st minute.
Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant tipped Chris McCann's 25-yard shot round his post soon after the restart and pulled off another fine save to deny Robbie Blake's rasping drive as Burnley resumed full of purpose.
But Wednesday rode out the early storm in the second period and effectively killed the game off in the 65th minute when Tudgay fired his second.
Clarke found his strike partner with a deft pass inside the penalty area and Tudgay applied an emphatic finish, high into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Tudgay was denied a hat-trick in the 72nd minute when his 25-yard shot was brilliantly saved by Penny.
