Back to the Barsnley game though.
GK: Pressman (7) Def: Hendon (6), Walker (7), Bromby (7), Harkness (6) Mid: Sibon (7), Lescott (7), Solvedt (7), Ripley (7) Att: Ekoku (6), De Bilde (6)Wednesday were poor first half and Barnsley were well in control. The opposition twice worked good moves to leave shooting chances and they finally succeeded when Shipperley slipped in front of Bromby to slot home a left wing cross. Barnsley then took control and although Wednesday had their fair share of possesion, the Reds defence coped with anything Wednesday had. De Bilde tried hard and in fcat had the ball in the back of the net but, as TV evidence later proved, th eref indicated he had hand-balled it before volleying home. Ekoke then forced a good save from the keeper after being put through.
Barnsley were again in control for most of the second half although we had most of the possesion. Shreeves sent on Morrison for Harkness and later Greary and Simon Donnally for Hendon and De Bilde. Despite Wednesday efforts, Barnlsye defended well and had the occasional break. Our equalising goal came from a Sibon free-kick. The Dutchman, not having one of his better days, had already tried two free-kicks but this one went into the top corner with a slight deflection off the wall. The atmoshpere then lifted and the team looked a lot more dangerous. You could sense Wednesday were looking for all three points. A lomg Soldvedt throw-in fell to Donnally in the box and he turned adn squeezed his shot past the keeper.
Barnsley can feel a little hard-done by to lose 2-1 but it showed that Peter Shreeves' team don't give up and the result means we are now safe. Crystal Palace and Stockport still have to play each other and so neither of them can win all their remaining games to they'd need to overtake Wednesday.
GK: Pressman (7) Def: Lescott (6), Walker (6), Westwood (6), Bromby (6) Mid: Sibon (7), Palmer (6), Solvedt (6), Quinn (8) Att: Ekoku (5), De Bilde (6)The first half was fairly even with neither side looking brilliant. Wednesday shaded it with more possesion and United only had one real chance, an Ndlovu header at the back post going wide though Lescott had it covered n theline. Wednesday looked the more threatening - just. A great run by Alan Quinn was brought to an abrupt end with a foul and from the resulting free-kick, Sibon hit the post. Simon Tracey also needed two attempt to get hold of the ball following a flick-on from a corner. They were the best chances of the half. It has to be said that the ref was terrible. He was very picky and almost every tackle ended up a free-kick for both sides. Also, despite united players going through the back of Quinn, Sibon and De Bilde, he booked Quinn for one of his mis-timed tackles which wasn't particularly malicous - and his first offence. Sadly, Quinn limped out of the game after a strong run saw him take a number of kicks. It was later announced he has broke his leg and will be out for the season.
United looked more up for it second half and took the lead after a slip by Des Walker. Walker failed to clear a long kick from Tracey which let in Carl Asabe to hold the ball up and pass to unmarked D'Jaffa cake to hit home. Wednesday let in a second thanks to sloppy defending. Bromby let Devlin in acres of space on the left and his cross was tamely headed in by Asabe despite the three defenders around him. It looked like Pressman went down in slow-motion. Wednesday threw on Di Piedi for Lescott and spent the rets of the time attacking despite United's attempts to play for time. Sibon finally pulled one back with a smart volley on the edge of the area. With just seconds to go, Sibon fired in a free-kick from near the corner flag. It just needed the slightest of touches but Ekoku and Di Piedi were inches away from it. The game finished 2-1 to the pigs.
In the end it seemed like united wanted it just that bit more than we did. The worse thing is though, we'll have to listen to Warnock's bulsh*t about how great united were.....:(
Wednesday were without Alan Quinn and Owen Morrison due to international call ups and De Bilde got a recall following the depature of Andy Booth to Huddersfield. Wednesday took the lead on 24 minutes when de Bilde justified his selection by turning two defenders and firing home off the post. The scored stayied the same until the hour mark when Geoof Horsfield scored an equaliser for Birmingham. Pressman had saved Purse's penalty but Horsfield scored the rebound. But Wednesday weren't to be denied all three points. Shreeves sent on Di Piedi and he soon latched onto a pass from Ekoku and sprinted to clear to seal another away victory for the Owls. The win moved us up to 15th in the table on 45 points. A win in the derby against Sheff Utd should see us safe from relegation....rol on Sunday!
GK: Pressman (7) Def: Hendon (7), Walker (8), Westwood (7), Bromby (7) Mid: Sibon (7), Palmer (7), Solvedt (7), Quinn (7) Att: Ekoku (7), Booth (7)Wednesday gained another 3 points witha 2-0 victory over a pretty poor Burnley side. It's true tosay Wednesfay are playing more direct football at themoment but it seemed there was a little more quality than of recent match's. The first half saw Wendesday have mostof the possesion. Burnley threated twice but one good save from Pressman and two clearances from Des Walker kept our goal in tact. Booth won a lot in the air and Sibon was producing excellent dead-ball kicks and it looked only a matter of time before Wednesday converted a corner or free-kick. It was sibon who played in a lovely ball between two defenders for Ian Hendon to smash the ball into the roof of the net on 40 minutes to put Wednesday 1-0 up at half time.
It seemed as though we stayed in the dressing room for an extra ten minutes as Burnley began strongly at the startof the half. Slowly Wednesday got back into the game though. We gave the ball away a lot but managed to put a few good attacking situations together. It was froj mone of these that Ekoku was pulled down in the box and Sibon calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to score the resulting penalty. Wednesday endured a spell of Burnly pressure then but the introduction of Lescott for Quinn help tighten the midfield up. Another clean sheet and 3 points means we are edging closer to safety as we now have 42-points.
It was a better performance from Wednesday and Carlton Palmer seemed to keep everyone going during the match. It was Soldvedts last game ofhis loan spell but it is hoped that Shreeves can extend that loan. I think we'll miss the Norweigan's presence in the middle if he gores back to Southampton.
News of the pitch is that Matthew Hamshaw is the latestof the youngsters to sign an extension to his contract that will tie him to the club for the next four years.
Manager Peter Shreeves was impressed by the performance, especially coming from behind. Shreeves had earlier in the weke told th eplayers to listen to inspiring music before the match and sent videos of good performances to some of of the players. It is these man-mangement skills that seemed lacking under Jewell. Shreeves has now taken 13 points from 18 since being put in charge.
Peter Shreeves has said that he is looking to extend Trond Soldvedt's loan spell with the club and will be talking to Southampton in the week. Wednesday have also signed a 19-year old Irish midfielder from Sligo who used to play for Leeds reserves.
GK: Pressman (8) Def: Hendon (8), Walker (8), Westwood (7), Bromby (7) Mid: Sibon (7), Palmer (8), Solvedt (7), Quinn (7) Att: Ekoku (7), Booth (7)Wednesday couldn't find a way through the Portsmouth defence and the game ended 0-0. We were pretty poor first half and gave the ball away too many times. There weren't too many efforts on goal. The most notable incedent was when a indirect free-kick was awarded for an intentional pack-pass by a Portsmouth defender. They wall wouldn't retreat 10-yards so the ref moved the kick forward 10-yards to the edge of the 6-yard box. But as is the case is most of these situations, Sibon's shot came off the wall. Sibon also mis-hit a corner that Westwood put over the ball when it was easier to score. Portsnouth only had one chance of note when their forward was but through but Pressman was quick off his line and chested the ball past the attacker about 20-yards out from goal.
Wednesday upped the tempo in the second half and the visitors were restricted to less thank a handfull of breakaways. Wednesday had all the pressure and did everything but score. Booth had a free header that he directed straight at the keeper and another that looped just wide. In the dying seconds, a clash between two Portsmouth defenders left sub Di Piedi free with the ball but he poked it just wide.
It was really a game we needed to win and we will consider it 2 points dropped. Next match is away at West Brom where a draw would be a decent result for us.