Two goals in the opening 17 minutes from striker Chris O'Grady set promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday on their way to a comfortable 3-1 victory at struggling Scunthorpe.

It was the first win in three games for the Owls, moving them level on points with second-placed Huddersfield and third-placed Sheffield United.

O'Grady struck first inside the opening 50 seconds when he eased his way unmarked into the box to steer his shot through the legs of goalkeeper Sam Slocombe. It came while Scunthorpe were down to 10 men with full-back Christian Ribeiro off the field needing treatment for a head injury he sustained almost straight from the kick-off.

With Wednesday dominating, O'Grady struck again to make it 2-0, heading home a left-wing corner from Chris Lines. Without a home win now for three months, Scunthorpe rarely threatened in the first half, winger Andy Barcham heading his side's best chance over the top.

Two minutes into the second half, winger Jermaine Johnson made sure of a seventh away win for the Owls when he waltzed his way free into the box to make it 3-0.

Striker Jordan Robertson grabbed a consolation goal for Scunthorpe in the 55th minute when he headed home a left-wing corner from Josh Walker - his first goal for the club. But at the opposite end, only a good save from Slocombe denied Wednesday striker O'Grady his hat-trick.

Elsewhere, Prospective manager Gary Smith would have been delighted with what he saw as Stevenage came from behind to claim a 4-2 victory against MK Dons and close the gap on their opponents in League One.

Smith, who is expected to be appointed on Wednesday, watched from the stands as Boro won a game that swung on the sending off of Dons defender Mathias Doumbe.

MK Dons broke through in the second minute when Adam Smith's low cross was pushed out by Stevenage goalkeeperChris Day to Jay O'Shea and he tapped in.

Boro drew level spectacularly when Michael Bostwick's first-time effort from 25 yards sped past Dave Martin and into the bottom corner.

Doumbe was then sent off for a second booking and the hosts took advantage straight away as Scott Laird flicked in Luke Freeman's free-kick.

Three minutes later, Freeman was again the provider as his cross was powerfully headed in by Darius Charles. Any hope offered by Tom Flanagan's header with five minutes left was quickly snuffed out as Dons defender Gary MacKenzie turned Charles' cross into his own net.

Notts County made it five home games without a win as manager Martin Allen's decision to make sweeping changes backfired in a goalless draw with Preston.

In a dire first half, characterised by scrappy play, nasty tackles and sloppy passes, Kieron Freeman was a lone beacon of hope.

The full-back twice got forward well and on the second occasion profited from a rare piece of good passing to fire the ball across the area, with only a last-gasp David Gray clearance preventing a goal.

And it was Gray who eventually registered North End's first shot in the 54th minute as he ran onto a poor clearance and saw a deflected strike saved.

Allen had started only five of the players who did well against MK Dons on Saturday, and the dropped Lee Hughes came on to latch onto an excellent Neal Bishop through ball and sting the palms of Thorsten Stuckmann.

Alan Sheehan then saw his shot deflected inches wide and from the corner, Liam Chilvers' header was saved. Hughes then crossed for substitute Ben Burgess, who out-jumped Stuckmann to head goalwards, but his effort was nodded off the line.

PA Sport