Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Swansea

Darren Pratley's two goals condemned Sean McAuley to a losing start as Sheffield Wednesday caretaker boss.

The midfielder took just five minutes to put Swansea in charge, Gorka Pintado laying the ball on for Pratley to take in his stride and beat Lee Grant.

Wednesday rallied and it took a good save from Dorus de Vries to keep out Jermaine Johnson's fierce shot.

But the Owls then struggled and Pratley struck a second goal, meeting Nathan Dyer's low cross at the near post.

Wednesday parted company with Brian Laws last weekend but McAuley was unable to inspire an improvement as Swansea maintained their push for promotion.

The Owls are now winless in the last 10, having lost the last six and face the harsh reality of relegation if they do not make drastic improvements.

Wednesday could not have made a worse start as they fell behind to the first meaningful attack of the game in the fifth minute.

Pintado picked the ball up on the left and flighted a fine pass over the top and, with Wednesday trying to play the offside trap, Pratley ran clear before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Grant.

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The hosts responded positively, though, and nearly levelled twice in a minute.

First Johnson's 25-yard drive was palmed over by De Vries and then from the resulting corner, Darren Purse's header was beaten away by the Dutch keeper.

Johnson was a continued threat on the wing but wasted possession, while the hosts were always vulnerable to the Swansea counter-attack.

And so it proved nine minutes before the interval as Pratley got his and Swansea's second with a wonderfully-crafted goal.

There was an interchange of passes before Andrea Orlandi set the dangerous Dyer free.

The winger beat his full-back before centring for Pratley, who met the cross with a low and powerful shot from 12 yards out to bag his fourth of the campaign.

McAuley's men did improve after the break and controlled the majority of the possession, but their lack of creativity in the final third told and De Vries had very little to do.

Substitute Francis Jeffers did have a golden opportunity to get one back when he found himself in space in the penalty area but a heroic piece of defending by Swans skipper Alan Tate saw Jeffers' shot blocked.

Swansea did not try to force the pace in the second period and seemed content to sit on their lead.

However, as much as Wednesday huffed and puffed they were not able to make the breakthrough and were subjected to a chorus of boos at the full-time whistle.

Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Sean McAuley:

"I feel for the players. They are in a bad position at the minute and there is a fear and a lack of belief.

"I think the ability in the squad is quite good but, at this moment in time, they are definitely not playing to their potential levels.

"They are not pushing the boundaries and I think that is because of fear.

"I think the endeavour and enthusiasm throughout the first half was good. I thought they played with so much heart but never played with the head."

Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa:

"Darren Pratley has started to understand better and better to pick his moments to attack.

"This is what we expect from him and, if he starts to do it more regularly, he will not play in the Championship, he will play in the Premier League.

"We are working hard for everyone to be ready to score and it's what I want to see. Everyone should score.

"They started well but we showed the responsibility and the personality I want to see."

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