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Exeter 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1: Match Report
Exeter City v Sheffield Wednesday.....GOAL.....Citys equaliser staright from the free kick from Billy Jones
ANYBODY who thinks promotion can be achieved standing on your head, figuratively speaking, should have been at Exeter on Saturday.
Jermaine Johnson struck the pose momentarily but only in frustration after shooting wide.
That came in the Owls’ best spell during the first half when they pressed forward and had chances, as many will have expected the game to go.
It was second against strugglers, a big club against lowly opposition who have lost key players and had not scored for four matches.
But it’s not easy; unless you keep up the right standards the form book can be turned upside down.
Wednesday ended up losing a turgid affair with a strangely lethargic performance.
Johnson struck a smashing second-half goal - his fourth in his last six appearances - and the Owls could have taken a grip on the game before that.
But they were not potent enough going forward and overall lacked the drive and quality you might expect from a promotion-hunting side.
Megson did not reel off names in his strong criticism of the team and made it clear he was not talking about all his players.
But it seemed significant that Gary Madine was taken off relatively early for the third time in his last three appearances, having once again not rediscovered his form and scoring touch.
John Bostock still looked to be finding his feet in his new environment after his move from Spurs and was replaced at half time. Megson said of the loan midfield man: “He needs to get a bit of life in his game. He’s got quality but I wasn’t happy with what I saw. It was only me settling down a bit that stopped me making three subsititutions at half time.”
Maybe it was time to mourn the loss of the guile of Ben Marshall; and the energy and power of the suspended Reda Johnson were certainly missed.
Chris O’Grady is a grafter but he was blunted by some rugged defending. Apart from Johnson, who continually posed Exeter problems with his runs and liveliness, and Miguel Llera, who was impressive once again, the Owls had no-one who had a really good game.
Even Stephen Bywater raised question marks. Gary Megson, talking about the first of Exeter’s two free-kick goals, whipped into the bottom corner by left back Billy Jones said: “I’m not sure about the positioning of the wall but Stephen should have guarded that side.
“It’s right in the corner but that’s his side. If it goes into the corner on the other side, then there’s no blame on the goalkeeper. We’ve got a wall but we didn’t prepare for the free kick in the right manner.”
The free kick had been conceded by Rob Jones, who had just come on for the injured Llera. Exeter’s second was irritating because it came after a dubious decision against Jose Semedo: “It was ridiculous,” said Megson.
“It’s not Semedo’s fault that he’s stronger than the fella who ended up on his backside. That sort of thing had been going on throughout the game. It was an unstoppable strike by the lad, but it wasn’t a free kick in the first place.” It was a remarkable goal. Midfielder David Noble’s right-foot shot went extraordinarily high and dipped home, with Bywater not making an attempt to save, either because he thought it was going wide or because he knew he could not get to it.
Megson clearly felt the Llera was missed after he went off with a facial cut: “I thought he was our best player. The injury has cost us.”
The centre half was hurt while attacking a Lines corner moments before Johnson’s goal: a crisp half-volley from 18 yards with his left foot, after a Julian Bennett long throw had been half cleared.
Wednesday’s first-half opportunities were a shot over the bar from 18 yards by Semedo, an over-running of the ball by Madine after he flicked it over the keeper; a Llera header from a Bostock cross which that was splendidly saved; a half-chance volleyed over the bar by David Prutton; and Johnson’s run where he outpaced the defence on the outside and shot wide of the near post.
Wednesday mostly defended well, getting bodies in the way of crosses and shots - particularly Llera and Danny Batth.
But overall it was a poor game and Wednesday were unconvincing - as they were in the first half against Yeovil.
They travelled to and from Exeter by train and have an opportunity against Stevenage tomorrow to put their promotion campaign back on the right lines.
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Comments
There are 55 comments to this article
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UTO1s mummy
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 04:49 PMI realise on this special valentines day that my UTO will never get gifts and cards due to his affliction, so ive written him a poem............. ROSES ARE RED.................VIOLETS ARE BLUE.................... YOU MAY BE PATHETIC.........BUT MUMMY LOVES YOU!!! Bless him. Loved by the one who matters most. His mummy!!!
silverblade
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 09:34 PMYep fair point, i'd probably get the sack, anyway about manager's how about Warnock for Wolves , might just be the right bloke at the right time hey, could do worse...
UTO1
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 09:17 PMAhhhh Silver there you are. That's more like the Silver we know............. BUT you sure you not AlienBlunt?? He sounds out the positives about the Owls then fits in a slant towards us!!! LOL. On a serious note though how long have you been a professional manager?? I'm sure Megson knows what he's doing!! He's only been at it for 16 years or so :-)
silverblade
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 09:02 PMNo not yet saving that for may :-) but about Megson he does have a go at his player's maybe it's his way of coping but do it in private of the dressing room..it's not like you are fighting relegation (makes a change hey)haha.. so you need to instill confidence in them and he's going about it the wrong way...just my opinion right or wrong...anyway still like both to go up automatically,i know i take the micky and get carried away at times only natural but i never get abusive like some from both camps.. but i wish all this banter ws held in the top division not this pub league we're both in....maybe one day hey......
UTO1
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 08:29 PMHey up Silver...... Come on you know who I was referring to. The Owls can't get on. I have not seen so many posts from you lot for a while! Any one would have thought you'd just won the league. Don't listen to the radio either all I hear from others is that it's full of moaning blunts!
silverblade
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 07:59 PMCalling your own fans grunter's hey..:-)uto just check all the posts on here most are from wendies stating the same as i have, just that you seem to have you blue tinted glasses on. talk about blind faith youv'e got it down to a tee...wake up smelll the coffee you ought to listen to megson slating his player's on the radio..
BM'S DADDY
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:57 PMnot been on for a while been in prison after giving our bm a good hiding after catching him fiddlin with him self whilst sniffing his sisters knickers, our bm is a right perv he cant go to special skool any more cos he keeps wipping out his todger the dirty scrondrel
UTO1
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:49 PMPost 47....... Thank God you're a blunt. How the massive must be sooooooo proud of you. Now all you have to do is actually attend a match!!! UTO
UTO1s mummy
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:16 PMMummy loves you UTO1. Even though people call you names and say you are childish, sad and pathetic, mummy still loves you. Hush Hush my dear, dont get upset it will all blow over im sure. Bless!!!
UTO1
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:03 PMHave I been frozen in time or something? I can't believe the stupid comments from the deluded ones at S2...... We lose a game away from home and they're all wetting their panties. Mind you they DO need to get their own back after being quiet having lost their 2 previous games...... We Owls did laugh at them, so fairs fair I guess. UTO
tonyowl
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:01 PMSounds like Gary Megson received a stern reminder of the expectations of our Supporters on the train journey back from Exeter on Saturday night, and got their first-hand opinions and disappointments direct from the faithful travelling supporters. Expect Megson & Chris Evans to fire up the players and to treat the next Home game as a great opportunity to utilise what is a bigger squad than 6 months ago and go out and GIVE IT SOME Go to the game and get behind the Lads! UTO WTID
Honolulu VVednesday 1867
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:50 PMWE ARE 5H1TE......................THE FUTURES NOT BRIGHT
Ldn Rd Blade
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:37 PM@42 Ha Ha.
SWFCfansareinaworldoftheirown
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:20 PMSquoooz me???? Please keep all posts on topic with a general view point of insulting Wendy or congratulating blades for posting funny material. Thanks. It's not a coffee morning, it's a forum to have a dig at Wendy being the .... of Sheffield
Ldn Rd Blade
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:13 PMAh, thanks guys. Seriously tho, what happens if i turn up and I find out Flotter is really a nice guy? I'd feel bad slating him then.
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