Sheffield Wednesday Vs Southampton: Saints win 3-1 as unbeaten run reaches eight
In sheffield wednesday vs southampton at Hillsborough, Southampton extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches with a 3-1 victory that keeps them pressing for a play-off spot.
First-half strikes from full-backs James Bree and Ryan Manning put the visitors in control, Jerry Yates pulled one back after the break for the hosts with only his third goal of 2026, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis sealed the win late in the second half. The result leaves Tonda Eckert's seventh-placed side four points behind Wrexham in sixth.
Sheffield Wednesday Vs Southampton: Saints continue play-off push
Southampton arrived at Hillsborough having climbed from 20th place when Tonda Eckert took over at the start of November; the 33-year-old German has overseen a visible transformation despite a wobble either side of Christmas. Their unbeaten run has now stretched to eight league matches, and Eckert's side remain within reach of the play-off places if they maintain this form.
Full-backs Bree and Manning put Saints in control
James Bree opened the scoring in the first half, the right-back poking home from seven yards after a corner was initially cleared and then recycled by Leo Scienza; it was Bree's third goal in four games. Ryan Manning, his left-sided counterpart, added a second in stoppage time at the end of the first half from a free-kick after Liam Palmer had upended Kuryu Matsuki on the right corner of the box. Manning's left-foot hit flew inside the near post and, while well struck, should probably have been stopped by the wall.
Wednesday's week ends with early relegation and takeover collapse
For Sheffield Wednesday it was another difficult week capped by a 12th successive league defeat. On Sunday they became the earliest ever relegated side from the English Football League after losing to their bitter rivals, Sheffield United, and in midweek a proposed takeover fell through.
Goals, key moments and late chances
Wednesday briefly raised the temperature on 57 minutes when Jerry Yates headed in from seven yards after Saints failed to clear a corner, finishing a sequence of headers. The visitors put the game beyond doubt on 71 minutes when Taylor Harwood-Bellis replicated Bree's earlier effort, converting from an uncleared corner. In the final moments, Ingelsson saw a shot blocked and Liam Palmer forced a fine save from Daniel Peretz, but Southampton held on to the 3-1 scoreline.
Match coverage and manager reaction
Coverage around the fixture included a match pack titled "Match Pack: Owls v Southampton" and a post-match video of Tonda Eckert's press conference titled "Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton: Watch Tonda Eckert's press conference. " After the opportunity to rate players closed, the score shown represented the average from all user submissions.
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