He made sure that the Owls breezed past their first hurdle , after pulling off a fine league win at Sunderland at the weekend, when McClements got one of the goals.

He cashed in on a goalkeeping error last night to go past Joe Welch and knock the ball into the empty net.

The second goal came when McClements pounced after a free kick into the Southend box.

In a match of few other chances, Owls keeper Richard O'Donnell safely caught an early shot from Joel Ledgester.

After the first goal, Wednesday gave Southend another scare when Joe Appleyard launched a free kick into the box.

Keeper Welch dropped the ball, and Owls defender Tommy Spurr put the ball into the net, but the whistle went for a foul.

But Wednesday made sure when McClements drove the ball through a crowd of bodies.

It was a pleasing win for the Owls, after they were knocked out at home last season by Cambridge.

 

Southend coach Ricky Duncan was in charge of Cambridge on that occasion.

Southend had earned the right to visit Hillsborough thanks to a 3-2 win against Swindon, but Wednesday entered the competition for the first time, at the third round stage, and now wait to see who they face in round four.

OWLS: O'Donnell, Appleyard, Broadbent, Spurr, Fores-Chambers, McClements, Brackenridge, Coys (McMenamin ht), Jones, Bowman (Jordan ht), Kee (Wisdom 71). Unused: Liversidge, White.