Sheffield Wednesday 1 Coventry 1 - 01/04/2008
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Coventry 1 - 01/04/2008
Sheffield Wednesday: Lee Grant, Tommy Spur, Mark Beevers, Richard Wood, Sean McAllister (Adam Bolder 44), Frank Songo'o, Burton O'Brien (Bartosz Slusarki 83), Graham Kavanagh (Steve Watson 76), Jermaine Johnson, Ben Sahar, Deon Burton
Subs not used: Robert Burch, Peter Gilbert
Booked: Richard Wood 16
Goals: Richard Wood 90
Coventry City: Kasper Schmeichel, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Richard Duffy, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Julian Gray (Isaac Osbourne 90), Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud (Zavon Hines 74), Robbie Simpson
Subs not used: Kevin Thornton, Marcus Hall, Andy Marshall
Booked: Richard Duffy 23
Goals: Zavon Hines 83
Attendance: 21110
Referee: G Laws
Teamtalk
Richard Wood's stoppage-time equaliser lifted Sheffield Wednesday out of the Championship relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry.
Owls captain Wood stooped to head the ball into the far corner from eight yards out after a long throw-in from Steve Watson in the second minute of time added-on at Hillsborough to earn Wednesday a priceless point in their battle to avoid the drop.
On-loan striker Zavon Hines looked to have taken Coventry a step closer to survival with a sublime left-foot volley seven minutes from time after a mistake from Jermaine Johnson, but Wednesday threw men forward and were rewarded right at the death.
The point was enough for them to leapfrog Barnsley and Southampton on goal difference and the South Yorkshire club still have a game in hand.
Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman said his side needed two wins to preserve their Championship status and it looked as if they were halfway to reaching that target until Wood's late leveller.
In the lead-up to the game, Coleman insisted the onus was on Wednesday to attack and they clearly took his comments on board, forcing two early corners, one of which was headed narrowly wide by Wood.
Pacey winger Julian Gray forged an opportunity to put the visitors in front when he raced down the left flank and played a neat one-two with Michael Mifsud, but failed to get enough power on his shot, which was smothered by Lee Grant.
Wednesday struggled to keep possession but almost took the lead 15 minutes in when on-loan winger Franck Songo'o skipped clear of his marker and cut the ball back to Graham Kavanagh, who dragged a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
The diminutive Mifsud set up his strike partner Robbie Simpson after 28 minutes and the youngster unleashed a vicious right-foot drive that forced the agile Grant to tip the ball wide at full stretch.
Some poor passing from both sides made for an uneventful start to the second half, although Sky Blues defender Duffy went down in the penalty and appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty, seemingly more in hope than expectation.
The pace and power of Songo'o kept the City defence on their toes and the on-loan Portsmouth man would have been disappointed not to test Kasper Schmeichel with a powerful right-foot drive after a probing run down the right.
Coventry looked content to settle for a point, but, in a rare attack, Jay Tabb forced Grant to tip the ball round the post for a corner.
The Wednesday faithful were becoming more tense by the minute and vented their frustration at the experienced Kavanagh, who wasted several corners.
And the Owls were almost caught on the break when Mifsud raced clear but, with the goal gaping, wasted his chance to end his 14-game scoring drought by cutting inside and inviting a challenge from the retreating Johnson.
But Coventry were in front eight minutes from time when Johnson's poor attempted clearance sat up nicely for Hines, who lashed an unstoppable left-volley that left Grant helpless.
Wednesday looked void of ideas and doomed for defeat, but with the final whistle imminent, Watson launched a throw into the box and Wood directed the ball into the far corner to stun the visitors
CCFC
Sheffield Wednesday grabbed a stoppage time equaliser at Hillsborough after Zavon Hines' late goal appeared to have earned the Sky Blues a vital three points.
Centre-back Richard Wood headed home deep into stoppage time to deny City the win they looked to be heading for when on-loan striker Hines came off the bench to score spectacularly in the 84th minute.
Chris Coleman made just one change for the match, selecting Richard Duffy for his first appearance since re-signing for City on loan, the Welsh international replacing Isaac Osbourne at right-back.
Wednesday started the game brightly, pressing City back and looking to get an early stranglehold on proceedings and in the sixth minute, skipper Richard Wood headed just wide from a corner.
On the counter attack, City broke rapidly down the left through Julian Gray who played a neat one-two with Mifsud before forcing a decent stop from Owls keeper Lee Grant.
Graham Kavanagh came close to giving the home side the lead in the 13th minute when he produced a snap shot from the edge of the area, which had Kasper Schmeichel wrong footed but just went wide of the post.
The game continued as an end to end affair and on 29 Simpson linked with Mifsud and stung the fingertips of Grant with a well struck shot from 20 yards.
Just before the interval Brian Laws was forced into a change as Adam Bolder replaced Sean McAllister.
The Sky Blues seemed to have a decent shout for a penalty shortly after the break when Duffy was upended by Tommy Spurr but the referee waved the appeals away.
The lively Franck Songo'o was causing City plenty of problems down the Owls' right and he sent a powerful shot flashing narrowly over the crossbar as the game continued in a similarly open fashion.
The Sky Blues continued to play some good counter attacking football and Mifsud produced a good save from Grant in the 65th minute after more good interplay with Simpson.
But the Maltese striker was in Chris Coleman's bad books when he broke the offside trap and raced through on goal, only to hesitate in pulling the trigger before losing possession. Moments later City's top scorer was brought off by the Coventry boss and replaced by Zavon Hines.
And it was the loan man who scored what appeared to be the decisive goal in the 84th minute, smashing a sweet volley past Grant from 12 yards after Jermaine Johnson had failed to clear a Robbie Simpson cross.
But the Owls did not give up and grabbed a share of the spoils in the dying moments when Wood got a glancing header onto Tommy Spurr's long throw-in, which evaded Schmeichel and nestled in the far corner of the net.
4thegame
Richard Wood scrambled a stoppage time goal to keep Sheffield Wednesday's hopes of avoiding relegation alive after Coventry sub Zavon Hines had struck in the 83rd minute.
The teenage striker scored nine minutes after coming on, but it was the Owls centre-back who had the final word after missing two chances in the opening half.
The Sheffield side should have broken the deadlock early on in a match rearranged after the original fixture in December was abandoned with the Hillsborough turf waterlogged.
Burton O'Brien's deep corner evaded the Coventry back four and fell nicely for Wood, who pulled his far post header wide from six yards Julian Gray exchanged passes with dangerman Michael Mifsud to lash in a low shot from a tight angle which was smothered on the line by the diving Lee Grant, before Graham Kavanagh almost found a way through with a snap-shot but the ball spun narrowly wide.
The Owls, who are in the trouble for breaking Football League rules by naming six loan signings in the squad for Saturday's match against Stoke, pressed for the opener with Ben Sahar's right-foot drive taking a deflection as the ball flashed inches wide of the target.
Coventry, who have lost three out of nine games since Chris Coleman took over last month, soaked up the Wednesday pressure and almost caught them out on the break.
Mifsud found space on the right to stroke the ball into the path of the lanky Robbie Simpson, who finished with a stinging angled shot from just inside the box which was tipped away in spectacular fashion by Grant.
Wednesday squandered another chances a minute before the break from another set-piece with Wood stretching to reach Kavanagh's corner but again heading wide from close range.
Coventry could have had a penalty in the 51st minute after Richard Duffy beat Tommy Spurr before tumbling over the full-back's outstretched leg but referee Graham Laws would have none of it.
Chances fell at both ends with Mifsud was foiled by Grant, while Johnson's fierce low drive was clutched at the foot of the post by Kasper Schmeichel.
Hines struck after Johnson's attempted clearance fell at his feet and lashed the ball past Grant, before Wood stretched to reach a long throw in to head past Schmeichel for the equaliser.
Sheffield Wednesday: Lee Grant, Tommy Spur, Mark Beevers, Richard Wood, Sean McAllister (Adam Bolder 44), Frank Songo'o, Burton O'Brien (Bartosz Slusarki 83), Graham Kavanagh (Steve Watson 76), Jermaine Johnson, Ben Sahar, Deon Burton
Subs not used: Robert Burch, Peter Gilbert
Booked: Richard Wood 16
Goals: Richard Wood 90
Coventry City: Kasper Schmeichel, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Richard Duffy, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Julian Gray (Isaac Osbourne 90), Michael Doyle, Michael Mifsud (Zavon Hines 74), Robbie Simpson
Subs not used: Kevin Thornton, Marcus Hall, Andy Marshall
Booked: Richard Duffy 23
Goals: Zavon Hines 83
Attendance: 21110
Referee: G Laws
Teamtalk
Richard Wood's stoppage-time equaliser lifted Sheffield Wednesday out of the Championship relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry.
Owls captain Wood stooped to head the ball into the far corner from eight yards out after a long throw-in from Steve Watson in the second minute of time added-on at Hillsborough to earn Wednesday a priceless point in their battle to avoid the drop.
On-loan striker Zavon Hines looked to have taken Coventry a step closer to survival with a sublime left-foot volley seven minutes from time after a mistake from Jermaine Johnson, but Wednesday threw men forward and were rewarded right at the death.
The point was enough for them to leapfrog Barnsley and Southampton on goal difference and the South Yorkshire club still have a game in hand.
Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman said his side needed two wins to preserve their Championship status and it looked as if they were halfway to reaching that target until Wood's late leveller.
In the lead-up to the game, Coleman insisted the onus was on Wednesday to attack and they clearly took his comments on board, forcing two early corners, one of which was headed narrowly wide by Wood.
Pacey winger Julian Gray forged an opportunity to put the visitors in front when he raced down the left flank and played a neat one-two with Michael Mifsud, but failed to get enough power on his shot, which was smothered by Lee Grant.
Wednesday struggled to keep possession but almost took the lead 15 minutes in when on-loan winger Franck Songo'o skipped clear of his marker and cut the ball back to Graham Kavanagh, who dragged a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
The diminutive Mifsud set up his strike partner Robbie Simpson after 28 minutes and the youngster unleashed a vicious right-foot drive that forced the agile Grant to tip the ball wide at full stretch.
Some poor passing from both sides made for an uneventful start to the second half, although Sky Blues defender Duffy went down in the penalty and appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty, seemingly more in hope than expectation.
The pace and power of Songo'o kept the City defence on their toes and the on-loan Portsmouth man would have been disappointed not to test Kasper Schmeichel with a powerful right-foot drive after a probing run down the right.
Coventry looked content to settle for a point, but, in a rare attack, Jay Tabb forced Grant to tip the ball round the post for a corner.
The Wednesday faithful were becoming more tense by the minute and vented their frustration at the experienced Kavanagh, who wasted several corners.
And the Owls were almost caught on the break when Mifsud raced clear but, with the goal gaping, wasted his chance to end his 14-game scoring drought by cutting inside and inviting a challenge from the retreating Johnson.
But Coventry were in front eight minutes from time when Johnson's poor attempted clearance sat up nicely for Hines, who lashed an unstoppable left-volley that left Grant helpless.
Wednesday looked void of ideas and doomed for defeat, but with the final whistle imminent, Watson launched a throw into the box and Wood directed the ball into the far corner to stun the visitors
CCFC
Sheffield Wednesday grabbed a stoppage time equaliser at Hillsborough after Zavon Hines' late goal appeared to have earned the Sky Blues a vital three points.
Centre-back Richard Wood headed home deep into stoppage time to deny City the win they looked to be heading for when on-loan striker Hines came off the bench to score spectacularly in the 84th minute.
Chris Coleman made just one change for the match, selecting Richard Duffy for his first appearance since re-signing for City on loan, the Welsh international replacing Isaac Osbourne at right-back.
Wednesday started the game brightly, pressing City back and looking to get an early stranglehold on proceedings and in the sixth minute, skipper Richard Wood headed just wide from a corner.
On the counter attack, City broke rapidly down the left through Julian Gray who played a neat one-two with Mifsud before forcing a decent stop from Owls keeper Lee Grant.
Graham Kavanagh came close to giving the home side the lead in the 13th minute when he produced a snap shot from the edge of the area, which had Kasper Schmeichel wrong footed but just went wide of the post.
The game continued as an end to end affair and on 29 Simpson linked with Mifsud and stung the fingertips of Grant with a well struck shot from 20 yards.
Just before the interval Brian Laws was forced into a change as Adam Bolder replaced Sean McAllister.
The Sky Blues seemed to have a decent shout for a penalty shortly after the break when Duffy was upended by Tommy Spurr but the referee waved the appeals away.
The lively Franck Songo'o was causing City plenty of problems down the Owls' right and he sent a powerful shot flashing narrowly over the crossbar as the game continued in a similarly open fashion.
The Sky Blues continued to play some good counter attacking football and Mifsud produced a good save from Grant in the 65th minute after more good interplay with Simpson.
But the Maltese striker was in Chris Coleman's bad books when he broke the offside trap and raced through on goal, only to hesitate in pulling the trigger before losing possession. Moments later City's top scorer was brought off by the Coventry boss and replaced by Zavon Hines.
And it was the loan man who scored what appeared to be the decisive goal in the 84th minute, smashing a sweet volley past Grant from 12 yards after Jermaine Johnson had failed to clear a Robbie Simpson cross.
But the Owls did not give up and grabbed a share of the spoils in the dying moments when Wood got a glancing header onto Tommy Spurr's long throw-in, which evaded Schmeichel and nestled in the far corner of the net.
4thegame
Richard Wood scrambled a stoppage time goal to keep Sheffield Wednesday's hopes of avoiding relegation alive after Coventry sub Zavon Hines had struck in the 83rd minute.
The teenage striker scored nine minutes after coming on, but it was the Owls centre-back who had the final word after missing two chances in the opening half.
The Sheffield side should have broken the deadlock early on in a match rearranged after the original fixture in December was abandoned with the Hillsborough turf waterlogged.
Burton O'Brien's deep corner evaded the Coventry back four and fell nicely for Wood, who pulled his far post header wide from six yards Julian Gray exchanged passes with dangerman Michael Mifsud to lash in a low shot from a tight angle which was smothered on the line by the diving Lee Grant, before Graham Kavanagh almost found a way through with a snap-shot but the ball spun narrowly wide.
The Owls, who are in the trouble for breaking Football League rules by naming six loan signings in the squad for Saturday's match against Stoke, pressed for the opener with Ben Sahar's right-foot drive taking a deflection as the ball flashed inches wide of the target.
Coventry, who have lost three out of nine games since Chris Coleman took over last month, soaked up the Wednesday pressure and almost caught them out on the break.
Mifsud found space on the right to stroke the ball into the path of the lanky Robbie Simpson, who finished with a stinging angled shot from just inside the box which was tipped away in spectacular fashion by Grant.
Wednesday squandered another chances a minute before the break from another set-piece with Wood stretching to reach Kavanagh's corner but again heading wide from close range.
Coventry could have had a penalty in the 51st minute after Richard Duffy beat Tommy Spurr before tumbling over the full-back's outstretched leg but referee Graham Laws would have none of it.
Chances fell at both ends with Mifsud was foiled by Grant, while Johnson's fierce low drive was clutched at the foot of the post by Kasper Schmeichel.
Hines struck after Johnson's attempted clearance fell at his feet and lashed the ball past Grant, before Wood stretched to reach a long throw in to head past Schmeichel for the equaliser.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:12 pm
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