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Championship

Dec 14, 2013 at 3pm UK

Watford
0-1
Sheff Weds Sheffield Wednesday

FT(HT: 0-1)

Wickham (24')

Connor Wickham secures Sheffield Wednesday's first away win

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 14 December 2013

Connor Wickham's 24th-minute free kick proves enough for Sheffield Wednesday to earn their first win away from Hillsborough all season with a 1-0 victory over Watford.

Sheffield Wednesday have registered their first away victory in all competitions with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Connor Wickham of Sheffield Wedneday celebrates after scoring the opening goal from a free-kick during the Sky Bet Championship match against Watford on December 14, 2013 © Getty Images

Connor Wickham's free kick midway through the first half proved sufficient in caretaker boss Stuart Gray notching the Owls' first win away from Hillsborough all season and condemn Gianfranco Zola's men to their fifth successive home defeat in the process.

The Hornets, who are yet to win in any of their previous nine fixtures, went behind on 24 minutes through Wickham, whose free kick sailed past Watford shot-stopper Jonathan Bond.

Zola thought that he had watched his team draw level six minutes before the break when Ikechi Anya slotted past Damian Martinez from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Martinez then produced a double-save in the closing stages of the opening half to ensure parity; first to deny Anya once more, before the Arsenal loanee replicated his heroics to keep out Sean Murray.

The visitors were left breathing a sigh of relief after the referee elected against pointing to the penalty spot, as Roger Johnson appeared to tangle with Marco Cassetti in the area in the closing stages.

Despite Zola's men pushing for an equaliser in the dying embers, the Owls held on for their first three points away from the Steel City all season.