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MATCH REPORT: MK Dons 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Towering challenge: Wednesdays Danny Batth goes up for a corner
WEDNESDAY sustained their challenge for an automatic promotion spot with a well-earned point last night against one of their rivals.
The Owls overtook United and moved up to third, level on points with second-placed Huddersfield.
They profited from an own goal equaliser but deserved at least a draw from a disciplined and workmanlike display that also maintained the six-point gap between them and MK Dons.
In many ways it was an unremarkable match except for the sending-off near the end of Dons manager Karl Robinson after a touchline incident involving Reda Johnson.
Gary Megson made six changes to the side that started the Cup-tie at Blackpool.
Chris Sedgwick and David Prutton kept their places after playing well at Bloomfield Road.
Jose Semedo, Miguel Llera, Reda Johnson, Gary Madine, Jon Otsemobor and Chris O’Grady returned.
Out went Chris Lines, Liam Palmer, Rob Jones, Clinton Morrison, Ryan Lowe and Mark Beevers and there was no return for Jermaine Johnson.
Both sides had their new loan signings on the bench, John Bostock for Wednesday and Alan Smith for Dons.
The home club had completed a surprise beat-the-deadline signing of former Wednesday loan star James Tavernier but he was ineligible to face the Owls.
Dons have taken Newcastle right back Tavernier on loan for the rest of the season after Adam Smith was unexpectedly recalled by Spurs and joined Leeds.
It was cat and mouse last night with nothing to separate the sides and not a glimmer of a chance for either until Dons snatched a 15th minute lead.
Forward Luke Chadwick took advantage of space outside the box to shoot. The ball came down off the bar and seemed to hit Stephen Bywater before going over the line. Then it was more evenly matched stuff until a burst of Wednesday pressure, a couple of set pieces and equaliser in the 27th minute.
A Sedgwick corner was half-cleared, he put a fine ball back in from the left, the keeper struggled in the air amid a crowd of bodies and when the ball dropped into a melee it was stabbed into the net from close range. It was impossible to tell from long distance who had got the final touch; neither was the stadium announcer able to name the scorer.
No Wednesday player celebrated and word from the touchline was that the ball had gone in off home centre half Gary MacKenzie - his second own goal in successive games.
An Otsemobor long throw forced to defend desperately at their near post. But mostly the first half was full of cagey football and lacking in incident.
Wednesday were disciplined and though Dons have a reputation for free-flowing play they were unable to produce that to any effect. Lewis Buxton playing in front of the back four was one reason, and Semedo and Prutton and Semedo were stalwarts in central midfield. Inevitably some attacking width was sacrificed, though.
Early in the second half a Sedgwick corner brought a chance, a header by Johnson that was cleared from the goalmouth.
Then the wide man did it again, with his corner put wide by what looked like the head of Llera.
The two clubs’ new boys made their bow as subs, Smith in central midfield for Dons, Bostock on the right for Wednesday.
The contest remained tight. The fact that so far it not been a night for strikers to shine was reflected in the 62nd minute when both sides took off their leading scorer.
Jermaine Johnson replaced Madine and Jabo Ibehre took over from Charlie MacDonald.
Johnson supplied a left-wing cross that was headed just over the bar by O’Grady.
Suddenly Bostock sprang a break with a run from inside his own half, beating one man then seeing the correct pass to his right towards the unmarked Danny Batth but overhitting it slightly and driving the attacking defender too wide.
A spot of controversy erupted in the 84th minute: Reda Johnson and Stephen Glesson clashed on tbe touchline. Dons manager Karl Robinson tried to intervene in some way and Johnson went falling backwards to the floor.
The referee consulted the fourth official then sent Robinson off.
Wednesday stayed solid and there were no alarms this time in four minutes of added time as they pocketed a point.
Owls Match facts
MK DONS: Martin 7, Chicksen 6 (Smith 51, 6), MacKenzie 7, Flanagan 8, Lewington 7, O’Shea 7 (Powell 82), Gleeson 7, Williams 7, Bowditch 6, Chadwick 7, MacDonald 6 (Ibehre 62, 6). Unused subs: McLoughlin, Baldock.
OWLS: Bywater 7, Otsemobor 7, Batth 7, Llera 8, R Johnson 7, Buxton 7, Semedo 7, Prutton 7, Sedgwick 7 (Bostock 61, 7), O’Grady 7 (Morrison 89), Madine 6 (J Johnson 62, 6). n Unused subs: Weaver, Lines.
Goals: Chadwick (15), MacKenzie o.g. (27).
Bookings: Semedo (55), Flanagan (58), Lewington (73)
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 24 comments to this article
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doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:44 PM@23 yeah by Royal appointment only this guy, who does he think he is? haha. Ecclesfield is good for me aswell.
Strigidae
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:26 PMAfternoon DovoD, cant believe I missed Bagpuss. Ecclesfield sounds a great location to me, from a purely selfish point of view
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:41 PM@19 Removals come 27th Feb, move into my house in Chap 2nd March, its an Owl friendly zone. And indeed wingman we are... but maybe closer to my way or meet in the middle... ecclesfield.
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:41 PMRight I'm off then, very important I am, I will try and give you a few minutes of my ( expensive and very valuable time ) again on Friday but dont count on it, just think yourselves fortunate when it does happen, tarraa
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:16 PMWhere's Striggy ?
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:05 PMDiesel, when are you back ? are we gonna have another little tete a tete ?
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12:04 PMMorning fed up Owl, dint mean owt wrong mate, just kiddin thats all, anyway, what you got to be fed up about ?, youre gonna get one of the two automatic spots and we're gonna be left scrapping with Hudders in May.
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:39 AMHi cat, what you mean again, I have never mentioned it you cheeky little feline, apart from when we were at the Lion. And no it is Black just like my.......... I am compensating for. Lay about, I have only been at work 4.5 hrs and i have alteady swapped 6 YES 6 fire extinguishers in the building next door.... and I made a round of brews....Im back this month cat head, for good.
fed up owl
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:28 AMthe cat who are you calling laybouts some of work nights while you was stinking in your bed you cheeky git
fed up owl
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:24 AMvery dissapointed that mm didnt back gm as much as he could have in this transfer window. this time last year mm back alan ( the clown) irvin by giving him at least a million . i know hes gave gm some money this transfer window but its only the f.a cup money for reaching the fourth round. i was hoping we would have brought at least another one or two players in on loan or even bought one . now the transfer window as closed i suppose we could bring in free agents till the end of the season now . there are some good free agents out there komas and beattie who swansea have let go for starters . as for the game last night another good point away from home with one of our promotion chasing teams keep it up boys
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:23 AMCome on deluded ones, talk to me, I've only got an hour then I have to go and impart my suoerior wisdom to the wannabe managers of this world, I ant got all day like you layabouts
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:21 AMMy prediction remains unchanged after last night, Charlton to win it, Weds second, the rest to fight it out in the May lottery, another sh!t day in London then.
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:19 AMI see that Diesel is bragging about his humungous 4 x 4 again, you know what they say about folks who drive big flash cars mate, is it red by the way ?
The Cat
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:17 AMMORNING Diesel, Mr B and dick, I am not dead, just been incredibly busy , hope you guys are all OK, I see that Owen Goal was at it again last night, has he been transferred to Wednesday from United then ?
doggtheveryspecialdeputy
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:45 AMhaha no an Outlander Warrior, but bought new 16" alloys with chunky BRFGoodrich offroaders, secondhand but only used for 3mnths 1500euro new so far they have done nothing for me but alot of road noise... cheaper than buying 20" Winter tyres, they woukd have been 1k just for the rubber haha. Was due to go Bavaria soon Adventure Training but will be out of Germany by then.
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