STORM Boelo was on its way, but Henrik Pedersen had already been exposed to the elements.
Sheffield Wednesday’s 2,900 contingent provided their own barrage on a raw Saturday afternoon in Doncaster.
Damning chants of ‘Sacked in the morning’ and ‘We want Pedersen out’ were whipped up at key junctures by an angry away end. Less than 24 hours on from the full-time whistle, Pedersen’s departure had been confirmed.
It’s hard to comprehend that on the previous Saturday, Wednesdayites had seen their side score five unanswered goals.
That this performance arrived four days after a torrid loss at Notts County was more pertinent. The timing of this latest 2-0 away reverse was rotten.
Speaking of timing brings us nicely to Doncaster Rovers, whose manager Grant McCann has had to batten down the hatches on occasions this autumn.
Owen Bailey’s brace was exquisitely timed. His early double - arriving right on cue following two welcome assists from the recalled Isaac Hutchinson after Wednesday clocked off - settled this derby. Only a blinding save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer stopped him from going home with the match-ball.
The Rovers captain, who top-scored with 16 goals in 2025-26, had previously netted just once this term.
While form is temporary, class is permanent and goalscoring midfielders never lose that knack of arriving at key moments in the penalty box.
Bailey said: "This has got to be up there (for me). Sheffield Wednesday is a massive club and they brought a big following and it's a local derby and it was the importance of the game in terms of where we are in the league. It's not where we want to be.
"I'm buzzing that two have gone in. I can't quite believe the keeper pulled that one from the bottom corner, but the win was the most important thing."
After a tough home date with Stockport, McCann cajoled his offensive players to be braver on the ball and with their runs and angles. They followed his advice to the letter. In the first half in particular, Rovers out-enthused, outfought and out-thought their rivals.
Leon Ayinde was a problem for Wednesday. Will Keane did not play like someone making their first start since March - on his full Rovers debut, to boot. Hakeeb Adelakun, handed a surprise recall, had his moments as well.
Getting the ‘band back together’ of sorts undoubtedly helped as well. Jamie Sterry and Jack Senior - rated among the best full-backs in League One by McCann - were on deck and those around them took confidence from that. Their return was timely.
Wednesday's rough first-half show on the road was inexcusable not just because of events at Meadow Lane. It also came a fortnight on from a waste of an opening half in another Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield. Once is unfortunate, twice is careless.
When you lose away supporters, it's a bad omen.
Owls defender Liam Cooper acknowledged: "We're feeling it, we're up against it at the minute.
"We need to take responsibility as players. Conceding goals like that in the first 20 minutes is unacceptable.
"The manager doesn't go out there and play. We do all the analysis, the video we get is top.
"We've got to rally round. It's (on) us. Especially coming away from home in this league, you need to be men."
Relatively early on, Pedersen switched from a three-man defence to a back four, while Kieran Morrison swapped flanks.
Wednesday's issue was not tactics, but a lack of first-half intensity - see Huddersfield. They looked a team of individuals. Also see Huddersfield.
Their urgency improved on the restart as they belatedly forced Tommy Simkin into work.
A couple of Simkin's saves were routine for a decent keeper, which he is. One or two, most notably one to turn away a delicate flicked header from sub Mason Burstow, were top-notch.
Starting to play when you are 2-0 down is much easier than at 0-0 - and is also telling for an away side.
For all Wednesday's chances, Rovers could have added another couple late on, with Maynard-Brewer performing wonders to stop Bailey and Alfie May from adding gloss. The wonderful day was Doncaster’s.
Doncaster Rovers: Simkin; Sterry (Broadbent 68), Byrne, Grehan, Senior; Gotts, Bailey; Akinde, (McCann 81), Hutchinson (Hanlan 68), Adelakun (O’Reilly 68); Keane (May 68). Substitutes unused: Bryant, McGrath.
Sheffield Wednesday: Maynard-Brewer; Valery, Palmer (Fusire 88), Cooper, M Lowe; Bannan, Mitchell; Morrison, Keillor-Dunn, Heskey (Burstow HT); Al-Hamadi (Grainger 80). Substitutes unused: Trueman, Swinkels, Weaver, James.
Referee: R Martin (Gloucs)