BLACKBURN Rovers’ mini upturn in form came to an end as Steven Fletcher came back to haunt the manager who wanted to sign him for the second time.

In the summer Owen Coyle was priced out of a move for Fletcher who showed his quality to earn the impressive Owls their first away victory of the Championship season.

The Scotland international’s 22nd-minute strike dashed Rovers’ hopes of making it three league wins on the spin for the first time since March 2015.

And it meant they slipped back into the bottom three going into Saturday’s trip to Birmingham City.

On a beautifully clear night under the Ewood Park lights Coyle named an unchanged team for the third league match running.

And, after a cagey start, it was Rovers who showed first when Ben Marshall released Marvin Emnes and his inviting cross was cut out by Tom Lees.

Ex-Wednesday winger Marshall then forced Kieren Westwood into the first save of the contest after a bone-crunching tackle by Jason Lowe offered him the opportunity to shoot.

Pity, then, that Rovers allowed Barry Bannan the time and space to pick out Fletcher midway through the first half.

The former Burnley forward was not closed down, either, and his well sweetly struck shot took a slight deflection before looping over Jason Steele and into the net.

And the large and vocal Owls supporters were almost celebrating again in the 31st minute when Fletcher, who was first signed by Coyle when he was in charge of the Clarets, turned sharply 30 yards from goal and fired just past the post.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Rovers had been in the game up until the opener but, while they continued to have their moments, with Sam Gallagher heading a near-post Lowe cross on to the roof of the goal, it was a slick Wednesday side who went on to control the remainder of the half.

And last season’s beaten play-off finalists twice went close to adding to their lead.

Firstly Liam Palmer saw a fierce drive deflect inches wide after Adam Reach beat Marshall all too easily before the increasingly influential Bannan clipped the outside of the post from distance.

Rovers had clearly not learned their lesson. They did, however, have a golden opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

Craig Conway sent over a cross to the back post which was headed back into the danger area to Emnes whose close-range volley was touched over by a relieved Westwood.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Had the on-loan Swansea City striker hit it cleanly he would have toasted his fourth goal in as many league matches. He scuffed his big chance, though, and Rovers went into the break knowing they had to step it up to get back into the game.

With 11 minutes of the second half elapsed, and with no sign of that happening, Coyle brought off the well-marshaled Gallagher and replaced him with the hero of Saturday’s success at Derby County, Danny Graham.

The substitute had been on the field a matter of moments when Kieran Lee let fly with an ambitious half-volley from range which dipped over the bar.

Graham did get the chance to make an impact when Danny Guthrie played a chipped pass over the top but his touch let him down and a swift Wednesday counter-attack ended with Will Buckley dragging the ball past the post.

Coyle reacted by introducing Darragh Lenihan for Guthrie in an effort to inject some much needed energy into proceedings.

The home supporters responded by turning up the volume but the well drilled Owls, with their two banks of four, were looking comfortable.

Liam Feeney came on for captain Lowe, with Marshall dropping to right-back, and after Steele saved from Lee, Rovers had the ball in the back of the net in the 79th minute.

But much to Coyle’s anger Graham was adjudged to have been in an offside position when Emnes smashed Lenihan’s cross past Westwood.

And after that Rovers failed to threaten again.

MATCH FACTS

Rovers: Steele, Lowe (Feeney 77), Hoban, Greer, Williams, Marshall, Evans, Guthrie (Lenihan 68), Conway, Emnes, Gallagher (Graham 56). Subs not used: Raya, Samuelsen, Akpan, Brown.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Hutchinson (Loovens 61), Reach, Buckley, Lee, Jones, Bannan, Hooper (Forestieri 73) Fletcher (Nuhiu 81). Subs not used: Dawson, Abdi, Hunt, Wallace.

Goal: Fletcher 22.

Referee: Simon Hooper.

Attendance: 12,844 (2,752 away).