The Sheffield Star
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Fulham (2) 4-0 (0) Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday suffered just their second away defeat of the campaign, slipping to a 4-0 defeat at Fulham.
Goals from Ross McCormack, Shaun Hutchinson, Lasse Vigen Christensen and Cauley Woodrow condemned the Owls to back-to-back Championship defeats.
The result means Wednesday have not kept a clean sheet in 14 trips to Craven Cottage, shipping in 32 goals in the process.
Fulham made a bright start and created the first meaningful opportunity in the sixth minute when Nikolay Bodurov's looping header went over the top after an inswinging free kick by Ross McCormack.
Cheered on by over 4,000 Owls fans, the visitors threatened themselves through Tom Lees, who knocked over Chris Maguire's corner after finding space at the back post.
It took a fine clearance by Lees to prevent Fulham from opening the scoring on the quarter of an hour mark after Lasse Vigen Christensen cleverily whipped in a low centre after rounding Keiren Westwood from an acute angle.
Moments later, Maguire cut inside on to his right foot and forced Bettinelli into a smart stop.
But Wednesday were nearly caught out defensively when Hugo Rodallega disposssessed Lees before unleashing a low right strike which Westwood, diving to his left, turned away for a corner.
Gray's men then enjoyed a good spell of pressure themselves with May, leading the line on his own, having an effort hacked off the line by Stafylidis. McGugan, on loan from Watford, curled a free kick into the side-netting from 25 yards out as Owls continued to ask questions of Fulham's defence.
Stafylidis became the first player to go into the referee's notebook after a poor challenge on Maguire.
Wednesday skipper Glenn Loovens was also booked following a clumsy tackle on Seko Fofana. From the resulting free kick, McCormack showed his class, curling in an unstoppable right foot shot into the top corner.
Within a minute, the Owls nearly levelled following a quick counter attack, with May's low drive kept out by Bettinelli at the second time of asking.
Helan, seeking his third goal of the campaign, dragged an effort wide after a mazy dribble.
Fulham made Wednesday pay for that miss on the stroke of half-time when they doubled their advantage, Shaun Hutchinson heading in Bryan Ruiz's free kick.
With Owls facing an uphill task to maintain their six-match unbeaten away record, Gray threw on Nuhiu and Drenthe at half-time, taking off Kieran Lee and Joe Mattock.
Things could have got even worse for the visitors in the 51st minute but McCormack's free kick flashed narrowly off target.
Despite the changes, Wednesday struggled to puit Fulham under the cosh and have many sights at goal. Maguire fizzed a long range shot harmlessly over to sum up their frustration.
Fulham put the contest out of their reach in the 67th minute when Christensen side-footed home after a quick break away.
Christensen could have claimed his second and Fulham's fourth but he was unable to turn in Rodallega's lovely centre.
There were very crumbs of comfort Wednesday could take from their first visit to Craven Cottage since 2001. They lacked ideas in the final third and struggled to break down a well organised Fulham side. McGugan tried his luck after venturing forward only to steer his effort narrowly wide.
Fulham had a strong penalty appeal waved away in the dying minutes as substitute Cauley Woodrow was brought down after colliding with Westwood but referee Andre Marriner wasn't interested.
Fulham deservedly grabbed a fouth in added on time after Claude Dielna brought down Patrick Roberts. Substitute Cauley Woodrow completed the rout, coolly sending Westwood the wrong way.
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