Sheff Wed make bright start despite baffling miss

Starting a season in London comes with some benefits.

For starters, it means a rare overnight stay. Battling the traffic from Sheffield to the East End of London isn't ideal on opening day – especially when parking is non-existent at Leyton Orient.

Secondly, it also means the opportunity to dabble in the local environment. In this instance, a quick blast of Friday night karaoke in Bethnal Green with a fellow journalist. I did a very average rendition of 'Afternoon Delight' that Ron Burgundy wouldn't have been impressed with. The other journo did a far better job with 'Dakota' by the Stereophonics.

After, we joked it might be the highlight of the season. Pleasantly the game the following day more than delivered.

This was despite the best efforts of several players sinking to the turf, requiring critical medical attention (sarcasm intended) and seeing nearly 20 minutes of total stoppage time added (weren't we supposed to be stopping this now?).

A goal that went in off Callum Slattery's backside. A quickly taken drop-ball, crossed in for an equaliser. A well worked disallowed goal from Jamal Lowe, before he won and scored a penalty. That's two in two for Lowe now and he could be useful this season.

Then a big missed opportunity for young Harry Gray, only to be beaten by one of the worst misses you'll see - by Barry Bannan of all people. The veteran captain joked on Instagram after the game he'd be taking shooting practice on Monday. It was so surprising, I even commentated that he'd scored and had to correct myself. It was a proper 'did that really just happen?' moment.

There was enough time for Armando Dobra to fluff his lines when gifted a chance to equalise - but otherwise Wednesday saw out the closing stages with impressive control.

The away fans belted out songs about the club being back. They've now seen three straight wins if you count West Brom last season - what a change from most of last year.

Owner David Storch was mobbed outside the ground before the game. Someone gave him a pint. He had a bit of fun on X, promising to get the buyer a couple in return if he could find him.

Don't underestimate how well-earned the 2-1 victory was. Leyton Orient looked organised. They have good players at every level of the pitch and in on-loan Spurs man Yusuf Akhamrich they possess a skilled difference maker.

The Owls, meanwhile, are very much in the first flush of their rebuild. This was a 'get the job done' game – and it was mission accomplished, setting up a cracker of a Yorkshire derby at home to Bradford on Thursday night.

I interviewed chief executive David Bruce on Monday and had a walk around various parts of Hillsborough. There's a ton of stuff going on.

At Orient or back in South Yorkshire, you can feel the change.

Whisper it quietly - but in future, we probably won't have to rely on karaoke nights on away days for entertainment.