Oldham Athletic 2 Sheffield Wednesday 4: Owls recover after awful opening to make progress

Such a request would surely be wise after Wednesday last night took up where United left off a year ago by inflicting a demoralising defeat on Paul Dickov’s men.

And while it may not have been quite as comprehensive as the Blades’ 2-0 triumph on the opening day of the 2011-12 League One campaign, there can be little doubt that the 1,230 Owls fans who followed their side across the Pennines will not forget this truly stunning comeback in a hurry.

Three goals in 17 second-half minutes did the damage for the Yorkshire side as a two-goal deficit was transformed into a majestic progression into the Capital One Cup second round.

In claiming a place in tomorrow’s draw, Wednesday could even afford the luxury of missing a first-half penalty when Nejc Pecnik blazed over.

Jermaine Johnson, with a helping hand from Alex Cisak in Oldham’s goal, began the fightback eight minutes after the restart with a drilled shot that somehow squirmed under the Australian’s body.

It may have been a tad fortuitous but after that there was no holding the visitors, who drew level just after the hour when Chris O’Grady met a delightful free-kick from Miguel Llera to head beyond the helpless Cisak.

O’Grady then turned the screw on the Latics 20 minutes from time with his second of the night, the substitute turning superbly inside the six-yard box to control Pecnik’s cross before firing in from close range.

By now, Oldham’s resolve had been broken and Wednesday came close to grabbing a fourth when Michail Antonio’s barnstorming run ended with his shot being saved and Jermaine Johnson firing the rebound wide.

Antonio, though, would not be denied as he rounded off an impressive second-half display at the conclusion by cutting in from the left and beating Cisak with an unstoppable shot.

It capped an amazing transformation from a first half that had seen Oldham deservedly race into a two-goal lead.

Fielding four debutants plus Antonio, who had joined on a permanent deal from Reading following a hugely successful loan spell last term, Wednesday had looked distinctly out of sorts.

The fluidity that characterised their second-half efforts was absent, as was the defensive resolve that made Wednesday such an imperious outfit during last season’s promotion run-in.

That much had become evident inside seven minutes as an incisive pass from Cliff Byrne released James Wesolowski down the right flank. With the visitors’ defence slow to react, he had time to look up before picking out Slew who finished with a low shot past Chris Kirkland.

Clearly rocked at falling behind, the Owls then went close to conceding a second when a drilled cross from Youssuf M’Changama just evaded Robbie Simpson and Kirkland did well to hold on to a rushed back header from Llera.

Any hopes, however, that Wednesday had ridden out the attacking storm from Oldham were dashed on 27 minutes when the hosts doubled their advantage.

Antonio’s optimistic claim for a foul by James Tarkowski inadvertently led to the opening as Lee Croft took advantage of Wednesday hesitation to claim possession.

The wideman then delivered an inch perfect cross for M’Voto to dart between two defenders and power an unstoppable header past Kirkland.

As the home fans celebrated, it looked like being a long night for the away supporters housed in the Rochdale Road Stand.

They were, though, then given a glimmer of hope on the stroke of half-time when Antonio was bundled to the floor by Croft.

It was a needless foul but one that was rightly punished when referee Eddie Ilderton pointed to the spot.

Pecnik stepped forward to take the penalty but, much to Croft’s relief, fired high and wide.

As the half-time whistle blew moments later and the visitors trooped dejectedly off the field, there seemed no way back for Dave Jones’s men.

However, a stunning save from Kirkland to keep out Lee Croft four minutes after the restart proved to be decisive.

As, it should be said, was the 59th-minute block that denied Wesolowski for had Oldham scored then Wednesday, even after being given hope by Jermaine Johnson’s strike, may well have struggled to find a way back.

Instead, they responded in admirable fashion to fire in three more goals without reply to produce a remarkable turnaround.

Oldham Athletic: Cisak; Byrne (Smith 82), M’Voto, Tarkowski, Grounds; Croft, Furman, Wesolowski, M’Changama (Hughes 75); Slew, Simpson. Unused substitutes: Brown, Bouzanis, Taylor, Millar, Winchester.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland; Buxton, Llera, Gardner, R Johnson; Antonio, Semedo, Pecnik, J Johnson (Jones 85); Madine (O’Grady 29), Maguire (Coke 40). Unused substitutes: Bywater, Beevers, Mattock, Prutton.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).