Sheffield Wednesday 4 Mansfield 1: Joao stars as May’s absence points to striker’s departure

GIVEN Lucas Joao’s promising performance last night it is perhaps understandable why Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal can afford to continue leaving out Stevie May.

Kieran Lee is mobbed by delighted team-mates after scoring Sheffield Wednesdays third goal last night (Picture: Steve Ellis).

The Scotland striker was again nowhere to be seen at this Capital One Cup first-round game having not been picked, just as he wasn’t for Saturday’s Championship opener against Bristol City.

There is strong speculation he may be moving back north of the border and fellow forward Sergiou Bus wasn’t included in the Owls’ 18-man squad again, either.

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But Joao, the rangy Portuguese signed from Nacional last month, proved an instant hit as he made his full debut to help ensure League Two Mansfield Town did not inflict any shock at Hillsborough.

The 21-year-old fired in a bullet header after just 13 minutes and, in the second period, showed real guile to drop off and send Kieran Lee through for the club’s third goal of the evening.

That alleviated any lingering concerns for the hosts who had gone 2-0 up but seen Ryan Tafazolli erode that advantage against the run of play with a header just before the break.

Mansfield’s Chris Beardsley almost levelled early in the second period but then Angolan-born Joao stepped up to furnish Lee and Carvalhal’s side eased into the second round.

It is easier to name the players who were retained from Saturday’s impressive opening Championship win against City than write those who did come in.

Carvalhal made nine changes to his starting line-up, the only two remaining being Tom Lees and Alex Lopez.

However, given the positive manner in which the Owls started last night, it was clear the newcomers were keen to make the most of their opportunities.

Joao was bright and purposeful from the off, finding space behind the Mansfield defence and often showing his obvious pace, while Modou Sougou, debuting on the right flank, was a regular outlet.

Wednesday’s five-man midfield was far too dominant and slick initially for the visitors to get any sort of foothold in the game and the biggest surprise was that they did not build up a greater lead.

Carvalhal’s side took a 13th-minute lead from their first obvious set-piece, Lopez curling in a lovely cross from the right for Joao to arrive unmarked and duly head home into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

It was only six minutes later when the Owls were celebrating once more.

Sougou, the 30-year-old Senegalese signed from Marseille, skipped his way down the right – Mansfield left-back Malvind Benning was badly exposed most of the evening – and perfectly picked out Jose Semedo, the holding midfielder who headed emphatically past Scott Shearer.

The goalscorer was a controlling influence for the Owls sat in front of the back four and generally ensuring the visitors struggled to gain any semblance of rhythm.

However, after Caolan Lavery wasted more fine build-up play from Sougou with a tame shot straight at Shearer, Semedo was helpless as Mansfield burst into life in the final moments of the half.

The Owls were shaken when, out of nowhere, Jack Thomas chipped in a cross from deep on the right and striker Beardsley’s header left youngster Joe Wildsmith scrambling to make a fine one-handed save that tipped the ball over the bar.

Nevertheless, the threat had not dissipated; from the resulting corner, slack marking allowed Stags centre-half Tafazolli to shrug off his marker and, on the edge of the six-yard box, produce the third headed goal of the night.

The Owls were similarly shaky at the start of the second period, however, when Beardsley got on the end of another cross and Lees, this time, was required to deflect his header behind for another corner.

Joao’s class brought Carvalhal’s side some relief, though, as he set up Lee for that crucial third goal and Mansfield should have been out of sight soon after.

Marco Matias, a former Nacional team-mate of Joao’s, fired a left-foot volley narrowly wide soon after replacing the excellent Lopez.

He should certainly have scored when then finding space on the edge of the area only to fail to hit the target.

Mansfield replacement Adi Yussuf reminded the hosts of his side’s threat when he fired a shot which required Wildsmith to produce another quality save but the game was ended for certain when Sougou gained a deserved score of his own after Jeremy Helan had tricked his way down the left in the 84th minute.

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith; Palmer, Lees, Sasso, Wiggins; Sougou, Lee, Semedo, Lopez (Hutchinson 57), Lavery (Matias 51); Joao (Helan 75).

Mansfield Town: Shearer; Hunt, Shires, Tafazolli, Benning; J Thomas (McGuire 59), Clements, Chapman, Westcarr (Yussuf 59) , N Thomas (Caton 57); Beardsley.