Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2.
Aston VillaAston Villa1Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday2
Aston Villa surrendered their unbeaten home Championship record this season as they lost to Sheffield Wednesday.
Adam Reach and Jordan Rhodes both netted for the second game running as the Owls ended a run of three straight away losses to enjoy a rare win at Villa Park.
Villa were hit by first-half injuries to John Terry and Robert Snodgrass.
Terry's stand-in Chris Samba got one back for the hosts in injury time, his first for Villa, but it was not enough.
Villa's afternoon got off to a nightmare start in the very first minute when, from keeper Kieren Westwood's hoof upfield, an off-balance Terry's clearing header fell to Ross Wallace.
He moved it left and it fell nicely for Reach to power forward and hit a dipping left-volley into the top left corner from 25 yards.
Terry then left the fray on 20 minutes - and just three minutes later, Gary Hooper put through Rhodes, whose right-foot shot found the bottom right corner.
Having previously not scored in the league since March, it was his second goal in successive games - just as it had been for Reach, who is now on a three-game scoring run.
Villa then lost Snodgrass, who had been a pre-match doubt with a rib injury, five minutes before the break, allowing Callum O' Hare on for his home league debut.
Winger Jack Grealish also came off the bench late on to make a first appearance of the season after recovering from the freak kidney injury he suffered in pre-season.
But, even though Samba pulled one back in injury time, it could not prevent Villa losing at home in the Championship for the first time since 15 April.
The Owls climb back up to 11th in the table, two points outside the play-off places - and three behind Villa, who remain fifth.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM:
"We got rocked by a stunning goal. A wonderful strike from the boy. I don't think I've ever been a goal down after 20 seconds before.
"It rocked everybody. We huffed and puffed without ever having that real cutting edge. But it was a big blow losing both John Terry and Robert Snodgrass.
"Chris Samba came on and did well and he scored when we went gung ho and went for it towards the end, but really it was an awful afternoon for us."
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"Villa found it difficult to create chances but that was because my players were so fantastic, helped by that early goal.
"I know the quality of Adam Reach. He's young, English and a real talent. And he can get even better.
"We know we can challenge for the play-offs. The quality of our play should ensure we are challenging at the end of the season."
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Johnstone
- 27El Mohamady
- 5Chester
- 26TerrySubstituted forSambaat 21'minutes
- 21Hutton
- 7SnodgrassSubstituted forO'Hareat 40'minutes
- 6WhelanSubstituted forGrealishat 77'minutes
- 14Hourihane
- 37Adomah
- 39Davis
- 9Hogan
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 4Samba
- 10Grealish
- 13Steer
- 15Jedinak
- 20Bjarnason
- 36O'Hare
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Westwood
- 2Hunt
- 15Lees
- 12Loovens
- 6Fox
- 33WallaceBooked at 56minsSubstituted forPalmerat 63'minutes
- 8Butterfield
- 10Bannan
- 20Reach
- 7RhodesSubstituted forFletcherat 73'minutes
- 14HooperSubstituted forJonesat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Jones
- 4van Aken
- 9Fletcher
- 16Palmer
- 18Lucas João
- 28Wildsmith
- 41Abdi
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 33,154
Match Stats
Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamSheff Wed
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away12
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2. Christopher Samba (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
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Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
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Foul by Christopher Samba (Aston Villa).
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David Jones (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. James Chester (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Conor Hourihane with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jacob Butterfield (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by David Jones (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Hand ball by Keinan Davis (Aston Villa).
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
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Foul by Keinan Davis (Aston Villa).
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Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. David Jones replaces Gary Hooper.
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Attempt blocked. Albert Adomah (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Gary Hooper.
