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Scrappy game a sore point as Owls flap
Owls 1 Blackpool 1WEDNESDAY attracted a crowd second only to last September's Sheffield derby but surely missed a chance to make new friends in a scrappy draw with Blackpool yesterday.
More than 25,000 - only around 5,000 fewer than the attendance that watched the 1-0 victory against the Blades - probably saw little that would leave them eagerly awaiting the next match.
Laudable initiatives to reduce prices can only go so far towards reversing a general decline in the Owls' crowds: fans also want to see a successful side, and some were going home before the end yesterday, no doubt feeling that their outing was fizzling out in an anti-climax.
There were probably a lot of spectators who went along because it was Boxing Day and who would not class themselves as regulars, therefore might not be inclined to come back in a hurry anyway.
But any chance of Wednesday adding extra temptation with a winning score or entertaining football was lost.
The Owls have had some unconvincing spells at home lately and this was one of the them.
Partly it was down to their own shortcomings, despite the return to a stronger-looking line-up, and an attempt by Brian Laws to freshen up and strengthen the team by recalling fit-again trio Steve Watson, Francis Jeffers and Wade Small amid his other injury problems.
Partly it was down to Blackpool. The Seasiders arrived at Hillsborough with the seventh best away record in the Championship and appeared to be in the mood to show that there is life after Simon Grayson.
The Owls' emphatic 2-0 win at Bloomfield Road a month ago and yesterday's occasion seem to have been another motivational factors. Striker Ben Burgess said in the match programme: "We certainly owe Sheffield Wednesday one.
"We always look forward to the big games when we go to the big stadiums, and we just like proving people wrong."
The biggest positive for Wednesday was that they did not lose - Bartosz Slusarski's well-taken equaliser saw to that.
The on-loan striker got on the end of a near-post free kick by Watson to place home a volley with the outside of his left foot.
It was one of few clear-cut chances made by the Owls.
Their best strike of the first half had been a free kick from Tommy Spurr's left foot, which forced a one-handed save from Paul Rachubka.
Wednesday had more defending to do in this period than they would have liked.
Blackpool's joint caretaker boss Tony Parkes said: "We played very well in the first half. Sheffield Wednesday came back and put us under a lot of pressure. Overall, we feel it should have been three points for us."
The Owls did indeed hit back after half time - but not until after they had gone behind in the 48th minute in a passage of play that was a bit of a disaster for the normally dependable Lewis Buxton.
The right back pushed a cross out for a corner when he seemed to have enough to time to do almost anything else. From the corner, he fouled right back Shaun Barker and gave away a penalty that was tucked away by striker Alan Gow.
Laws sounded as if he could scarcely believe it: "The goal was a catalogue of mistakes. Lewis has put the ball out for a corner, I don't know why. Then he's got done from the corner, and given a penalty away."
The Owls manager added: "We replied as quickly as we could, which is good.
"Sluzarski has got a goal. I thought that for a period we were starting to get on top and they couldn't get out of their half. It's still not enough."
The equaliser came only six minutes after Wednesday had gone behind, but any hopes that they would turn on the style and deliver a truly impressive second half were dashed.
The Owls did apply pressure and force scrambles and get in strikes at goal, Jeffers and James O'Connor brought saves from Rachubka.
But Lee Grant, too, was in form when he kept a long-range shot from midfield player Keith Southern out of his top corner.
Blackpool remained on even keel, and no wonder Parkes thought his team should have sailed away with three points - striker Liam Dickinson lashed a chance over the bar in the 78th minute.
Laws tried this and that in an effort to change things for the better. Small was the first to make way: "I thought he did really well; he got cramp towards the end. He gives you that thrust going forward."
Sean McAllister came on, to the right side of midfield. Then on came Luke Boden for Jeffers, to play on the left side of midfield, with Slusarski switched up front.
Unusually Laws then removed O'Connor from central midfield: "I thought he was having a poor game," said the Owls manager. "It could have been any of them. He was making too many elementary mistakes, for him; he's set such a high standard."
McAllister was moved to the middle, Tudgay to the right flank, and Nathan Modest was handed his home debut as a sub.
On the whole, despite an improved second-half showing, the Owls could not produce the sort of form that you need to challenge for the play-offs.
They will look to tomorrow's match at Coventry as an instant opportunity to get back on the right track, and Laws is still looking forward to January when he should have more of his players back.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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