Patrick Agyemang celebrates scoringPA

Patrick Agyemang has scored five goals in 17 league games for Derby

Alex Winter
BBC Sport England

Goals in either half from Patrick Agyemang and Liam Thompson's first Championship strike helped Derby cruise past rock bottom Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Agyemang capitalised on a Wednesday error to give the Rams the lead midway through the first half before Thompson doubled their lead after the break.

Agyemang's second, from Rhian Brewster's half-cleared cross, put the game beyond doubt - if any existed - in the 62nd minute.

Wednesday, who are 29 points from safety having had 18 deducted, mustered just one shot on target in what was the latest in a growing list of dispiriting displays.

The Owls have now gone 14 games without a win and were fortunate to not suffer a heavier defeat on Monday.

Derby have moved up to 12th in the table, with just their second win in six games, and are now four points outside the top six.

The visitors took time to assert their dominance but pounced as Wednesday tried to play out from the back.

Thompson intercepted a loose pass and poked the ball to Bobby Clark, who found Agyemang inside the box.

With a clever shift of his weight, the striker created space outside Dom Iorfa and fired a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the bottom-right corner.

Clark almost made it two but Wednesday captain Barry Bannan bravely headed away Ben Brereton Diaz's cross.

Another chance soon followed as the hosts were again caught in possession deep in their own half but Clark fired well over the bar from the edge of the area.

Derby continued to control the game after the break and Craig Forsyth's free-kick from the left was headed down to Thompson who took it down well, created a yard of space and steered a low shot into the bottom-left corner.

A third soon followed as once more Wednesday lost possession in their own half, a ball down the left was well won by the strength of Brewster whose low cross was cleared only as far as Agyemang to finish high into the net from close range.

Despite almost half an hour remaining, the third goal was enough to send Wednesday fans to the exits.

They missed their side's only chance of the game as Bannan played in Svante Ingelsson, who turned well and shot powerfully with his left foot, but Jacob Widell Zetterstrom stood firm to deny him.

The Rams could have added gloss to the scoreline as Wednesday wilted but were unable to find the final pass, while Pierce Charles' strong save from Kayden Jackson in the final few minutes kept the scoreline just about respectable.

However, the table continues to make miserable viewing for Owls fans. They stay on minus nine points with just one league win all season, and have now conceded 40 goals in their 20 matches.

They are yet to name a preferred bidder with new owners being sought and have been in administration since October.

'Confidence went' - Sheff Wed reaction

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We started well, were more dominant on the ball, but we have spoken about playing direct and if they are more physical, then try to challenge them on the ground.

"But we played two much on the front side and not enough in behind. The few times we did get in behind we started to become more dangerous.

"We kept on going in the second half but after the second goal, the confidence went out of the boys and we fell away."

'We controlled the game' - Derby reaction

Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"I thought it was a great result, it was a really difficult game. Against Watford last week they were excellent so it's really pleasing to come here and get the result.

"First half, we got into some fantastic positions on turnover and it was disappointing that we weren't clinical enough.

"Really the game should have been out of sight first half but it was great to come out, get the two goals and we controlled the game in the second half."

Player of the match

L. Thompson
8.09
1 P. Charles
5.42
4 S. Fusire
4.53
10 B. Bannan
4.43
12 H. Amass
4.40
8 S. Ingelsson
4.05
6 D. Iorfa
4.00
16 L. Cooper
3.96
18 B. Cadamarteri
3.89
29 G. Brown
3.70
14 N. Chalobah
3.67
17 C. McNeill
3.56
3 M. Lowe
3.50
9 J. Lowe
3.32
33 Y. Alao
3.24
11 I. Ugbo
3.22
22 G. Otegbayo
3.16
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