Megson edges closer to acceptance

Sheffield Wednesday 3 Chesterfield 1

Even as a paid-up Wednesdayite, Gary Megson's mixed reputation as a manager gave him a few sceptical fans to win over when he was appointed manager in February, yet the phone-ins have been notable for the absence of negative calls lately and he now stands within one game of enjoying unqualified popularity.

Wednesday go to Bramall Lane a week today, Sheffield United's tumble into the third tier having set up the former Bolton manager for a Steel City derby he might have imagined would be a little longer coming round. From second place in the League One table, though, he cannot complain about the form his side will take with them. This was a fourth win in four and a sixth in a row at home. Only if they were entertaining their rivals on their own turf would the picture look better.

"We can look forward to the game in good heart," he said, while not wanting to make it seem more important than any other game. Of yesterday's victory, he said: "It is a good result but as a 90-minute performance it had bits that were good, bad and indifferent."

There was too much good, none the less, for Chesterfield. After Lewis Buxton had headed Wednesday in front from a Ben Marshall corner, leading scorer Gary Madine doubled their lead with a raking, diagonal shot on the hour. Chesterfield hit back through ex-Wednesday striker Leon Clarke but captain Rob Jones led a steadfast resistance to their efforts to find an equaliser before Marshall, with another sweet long-range effort, allowed thoughts to turn to next weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Bywater; Buxton, Batth, Jones, Bennett; Marshall, Lines, Semedo, O'Connor; Madine, O'Grady. Subs: Johnson for O'Connor (53), Sedgwick for Madine (71), McGoldrick for Madine (90).

Chesterfield (4-4-2): Fleming; Talbot, Downes, Holden, Grounds; Mendy, Randall, Allott (Whitaker, 75), Morgan; Westcarr Bowery, h-t), Clarke.

Referee Kevin Wright.

Man of the match Marshall (Sheff Wed).

Match rating 7/10.