Sheffield Wednesday 1 Middlesbrough 3

THE sixth goal of the season from Adam Johnson, Jeremie Aliadiere's third in two games and an own goal from the Wednesday skipper saw Boro come from behind to win, writes GORDON COX from Hillsborough.

Sean St Ledger was named on the bench just hours after completing a three-month loan deal from Preston North End.

There were two changes from the side that beat Ipswich as Jonathan Grounds replaced Andrew Taylor, who is expected to be out for weeks with ankle ligament problems, while two-goal hero from Saturday Jeremie Aliadiere replaced Leroy Lita.

It was the Frenchman's first start since the opening game of the season.

Brian Laws made one change from the side that drew here with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Mark Beevers replacing Richard Wood.

Boro fans had travelled in numbers for the game and were in great voice, but it was the Wednesday contingent who were in full cry as their side took the lead with just over two minutes played.

Luke Varney easily got the better of Seb Hines and smashed home off the underside of the bar from a few yards in from the right-hand edge of the penalty area.

What was always going to be a tough game had quickly become a whole lot tougher.

Jermaine Johnson tried to make matters worse a few minutes later when marauding down the Wednesday right and whipping over a good cross that Danny Coyne did well to catch.

Marcus Tudgay was next to keep the Boro goalkeeper's mind off the goal, and whether he should have stopped it, when drilling low and direct from 25 yards, Coyne comfortably gathering.

Boro gradually got a foothold in the game and passed the ball around well, Marvin Emnes comfortably getting the better of right-back Lewis Buxton on the right-hand edge of the Wednesday box before firing low, and Lee Grant needing a second chance before clutching possession.

A decent spell from the visitors was rounded off with 18 minutes played as Adam Johnson swung over a cross from the right and Darren Purse headed past his own goalkeeper from 14 yards.

From a slow start Boro had quickly regained lost ground and were now looking the more threatening side.

Tony McMahon, facing the club where he played 15 games during a successful loan period, looked dangerous down the right and there was the usual effective industry from Gary O'Neil.

Julio Arca probed and Emnes worked tirelessly as the visitors looked to go one step further - it had been an encouraging response to an early setback.

Boro's running off the ball has been a feature of their play this season and for a fleeting moment it looked as though they had cut through the opposition rearguard again as Johnson picked out Aliadiere, but he delayed he shot, was forced slightly wide and what turned into a low cross went untouched through the six yard box.

But now it was Wednesday's turn to up their game. They came out of the storm slightly bruised but that apart none the worse and soon David Wheater and Jonathan Grounds were busy and Hines was mopping up effectively as the home side found renewed hope in a well balanced game.

Back came Boro with Johnson working his way down their left before sending over a low cross that proved easy for Grant and a couple of minutes later Johnson wasn't far away with a 25-yard effort.

Entering the final minute of the half a loose back header caused all kinds of problems in the Wednesday defence, Aliadiere set off in chase, Grant came out to cover and he and Beevers collided.

Immediately it was clear there were problems and both physios were quickly in action, Beevers eventually leaving on a stretcher, with Grant able to continue and defend a corner which Aliadiere headed wide.

Half-time: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Middlesbrough 1

It took just four minutes of the second half for Boro to edge in front.

Purse took what turned out to be an awful free-kick deep inside his own half, Gary O'Neil snapped into a tackle and Emnes took possession.

The Dutchman fed Jeremie Aliadiere, who still had a bit to do as he entered the penalty area, but after looking like he'd gone a stride too far he launched a left-footed shot that blistered Grant's fingers of Grant as it flew past him from an angled 12 yards.

Now very much on top, Boro went for more and were twice denied by Grant, who saved well at his right-hand post to turn away a low, edge-of-area drive from Johnson and then produced a more spectacular effort away to his left as Hines went for goal with a seven-yard header from the resulting corner.

When Emnes chased down a clearance inside the Wednesday box the ball could have gone anywhere - it flew wide of Grant's left-hand post with the goalkeeper rooted.

Wednesday regrouped and went looking for quick reward and twice Jonathan Grounds produced excellent interceptions inside the Boro box.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men for several minutes after Gary O'Neil was forced off with a cut on his head. He returned with the footballer's badge of honour - a huge, white head bandage.

The game took on a natural ebb and flow, with neither side dominating and both looking threatening.

But Hines, who had grown continually stronger throughout the night, Grounds, determination personified, McMahon and Wheater looked organised and strong.

Wednesday possessed pace aplenty up front, but Boro were sharp on the break, passing and moving quickly and it set up a teasing finish.

With eight minutes remaining Boro fans got their first look at St Ledger as he replaced McMahon, who only passed a fitness test on a bruised foot this morning.

But it was action at the other end that sealed the win in a difficult game.

An outstanding pass from Rhys Williams released Aliadiere out wide on the right level with the left-hand edge of the penalty area.

He crossed deep to the other edge of the box where Adam Johnson took control, cut past Buxton and curled a fine shot way to Grant's left from 13 yards.

Sheffield Wednesday Grant; Purse (Capt), Buxton, Beevers (Hinds 45 +1), Spurr, Johnson, Potter, Gray (Clarke 71), Miller (McAllister 71), Tudgay, Varney. Unused subs: O'Donnell (gk); Esajas, Sodje, Simek.

Middlesbrough Coyne; McMahon (St Ledger 82), Wheater (Capt), Hines, Grounds, O'Neil (Hoyte 90), Williams, Arca, A Johnson, Emnes (Lita 71), Aliadiere. Unused subs: Jones (gk); Bennett, Franks, Yeates.

Referee: Tony Bates

Bookings

Sheffield Wednesday: None

Middlesbrough: Aliadiere, 75, foul; Hines, 77, foul.

Attendance: 21,722 (2,794 Boro)

Conditions: Mild with a gentle breeze.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Grounds was a leading contender in a team full of decent performances, but Johnson gets the vote.