Vincent Sasso double gives Sheffield Wednesday victory
Vincent Sasso scored both goals for Sheffield Wednesday in a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship win over 10-man Blackburn.
Rovers had Hope Akpan sent off late on and the result ensured Carlos Carvalhal's men remain in the play-off places, although they made hard work of it against their struggling opponents.
Sasso's 19th-minute opener was cancelled out within a minute by a Sam Hutchinson own goal, but former Braga man Sasso struck again in the 44th minute to secure victory.
Akpan was then dismissed in a fiery final five minutes following his protests over a disallowed goal.
The visitors began the brighter of the two teams and Connor Mahoney's jinking run fooled the Wednesday defence but his shot grazed the side netting.
Wednesday were slow out of the blocks and much of the early possession was in Blackburn's favour.
Despite the poor start, Sam Winnall nearly gave Wednesday the lead when his laboured shot deflected off a defender and looped just over the crossbar.
Having grown into the game, the hosts went close again when Ross Wallace's dipping free-kick beat Jason Steele but clipped the crossbar and went over.
The first set-piece should have been a warning to the visitors as minutes later Sasso volleyed Barry Bannan's curling free-kick past Steele and into the bottom corner.
But Keiren Westwood gifted Rovers a chance from the restart, the goalkeeper flapping at a defensive header and sending a routine catch out for a corner.
The home side failed to defend the resulting set play, Danny Graham rose highest and nodded at goal, the ball struck Hutchinson and bobbled into his own net to draw Blackburn level.
With Wednesday rattled, Mahoney drove at them on the counter attack, cutting onto his left foot and fired an effort at Westwood that the keeper held tightly.
With half time approaching, Sasso blasted the hosts back ahead, darting from the edge of the box at a corner and powering a header past Steele.
Two early second-half substitutions sparked Wednesday into life and Bannan drove a powerful 25-yard strike just past the post following a quick free-kick.
Continuing to attack, Adam Reach sent a low ball dangerously across the six-yard box but Steele reacted fastest to gather.
Having been introduced at half time, Fernando Forestieri thought he had doubled his side's advantage after firing into the Blackburn net but his attempt was ruled offside.
Westwood was forced to come to his side's rescue twice in the dying minutes, denying both Liam Feeney and Marvin Emnes as Blackburn pressed for an equaliser.
Blackburn's attempts to level were quashed as Akpan was given his marching orders.
The midfielder had put the ball into the net but was pulled back for a foul, and then sent off for arguing with the referee.
Source: PA
