Sheffield Wednesday progressed to the third round of the F.A. Cup on Saturday at the expense of Northampton Town but only after seeing off a spirited second half display from the visitors on a freezing afternoon at Hillsborough.
Wednesday went with an unchanged side from the one that started the midweek win over Walsall meaning that Jermaine Johnson and Giles Coke had to settle for places on the bench. Lewis Buxton's injury kept him sidelined so Spurr continued to fill the right-back slot with Daniel Jones at left-back.
Wednesday started confidently and Mellor forced Chris Dunn into action in the Northampton goal, getting his header on target from Sedgwick's cross. With just five minutes on the clock the home side took the lead when Spurr's corner was met by Beevers who headed home his second goal of the week.
Potter, also looking to add to his goal against Walsall, had a shot saved by Dunn as Wednesday continued to dominate the opening exchanges and they were denied a second by the assistant's flag when Purse tapped home from an offside position after a quarter of an hour.
Clinton Morrison seemed destined to double the Owls lead on the half-hour mark but was denied by the woodwork then; with 37 minutes gone the home side were awarded their first penalty of the afternoon. Mellor was tripped inside the box and Miller made no mistake to give Wednesday a much deserved two goal cushion.
Northampton had offered little to suggest they were capable of a second-half comeback but Wednesday were slow out of the blocks as the match resumed and Holt should have reduced the arrears, blazing over from close range. The Cobblers did grab a lifeline ten minutes into the half as Holt picked out McKay in the penalty box and he beat Weaver to half the deficit.
Alan Irvine sent on Johnson after an hour then Coke ten minutes later, in place of Sedgwick and Teale respectively in a bid to pep up the Owls display but they struggled to create the opportunity to put the tie to bed. Northampton never really went close to finding a leveller but they enjoyed a lot of possession in the second half and made Wednesday work for their victory, which looked unlikely after the first 45 minutes.
It was only in the last minute that the Owls were able to confirm their place in the next round. Northampton were penalised for a foul on Mellor in the penalty area for the second time and Miller again did the honours from the spot to make it 3-1.
Even then the visitors didn't lie down as substitute Thornton caught the Owls napping to score from a quick free-kick but there was no time left to force an equaliser as Wednesday’s 6th win on the bounce was confirmed.
The draw for the 3rd round of the F.A. cup takes place from 6pm on Sunday; live on ITV with former Oasis legend Noel Gallagher and Serge Pizzorno of Kasabian set to make the draw at Wembley.