Match Day Thread Sheffield Wednesday @Hillsborough 3/10/2015

Down the M1 again on Saturday to the land of Jarvis Cocker, Thuman League, Def Leppard and the late Joe Cocker, could mention one actor by the name of Bean but he is of a red variety who also inhabit the Steel town.
Our last visit proved memorable for all the wrong reason, we lost, we had a dick as a manager as well at that time and then there were the text allegations that Wednesday knew what our side was going to be. Happy days under medal winner Westley.
Since those days Wednesday have been taken over by someone from South East Asia and money appears to be no object too them although the price of away tickets is less than impressive.. Last time out Wednesday won at Brentford which proved to be the last match in charge for Bees boss Dijkhausen.
The Owls have a foreign manager hence there is a more cosmopolitan look to their side, although they have a strong backbone of British players, Westwood, hunt, Turner, Lees, Bannan and ex North Ender Wallace.
Up front they have the rather large Nuhiu and they shelled out a lot for Forestieri although did not play at Griffin Park.
Main player for me is Wallace possibly one of the best dead ball players in the league, still remember him curling in a stormer at Bloomfield Road against the Lashers.
Injuries and suspensions are our main worry after being Kettled last Saturday, Garner out for three games and Wright for one. Unsure whether Vermjil is available as he is on loan from the Owls, Huntington hamstring injury, plus Becks and Gally still long term. No idea who will play at the back could be makeshift at best.
First visit to the ground since a 3-1 under Moyes be delighted with that but will one of our forwards ever score again or is the dreadlocked one going to be our only scorer this season?

 

McCarthy rushed in from Crystal Palace. Only lasted 5 minutes before he hobbled off. Clarke and Woods in the centre. Woods favourite position!

 

The Championship is a tough league at the best of times for North End at the moment it is being particularly tough especially if you fail to take chances when they come along and then gift teams goals.
After a scenic but lengthy journey due to motorway problems arrived at the ground to find we had signed Paddy McCarthy on loan from Crystal Palace, his debut lasted less than 10 minutes after he appeared to get his studs stuck in the turf as he turned for a ball. As you would expect North End were all over the shop for the next few minutes after putting on Humphrey with Woods going to centre back.
Bannan pulling the strings was causing North End a whole host of problems, but like North End the home side were struggling to create any clear cut chances. The only chance that they had came as Turner headed over from a corner. North End were playing well getting the ball down and passing it about well although the final ball was often lacking,in the air Keane and May won nothing, the closest we got was when May narrowly failed to get on the end of a Johnson pass.
As the board went up for half time the Owls took the lead, two Wednesday players were ambling back not interfering with play when a Westwood clearance caused indecision by four defenders. The ball ended up at the feet of Wallace whose pass found Lee who scored through Pickford's legs.
Slightly undeserved in my view, but more comic defending ten minutes into the second half saw Wednesday double the lead, I have no idea what our defenders were doing but a ball that seemingly seemed to be going for a goal kick ended up in the back of the net with Pudil scoring.
North End immediately made two substitutions with Hugill and Doyle going up front, we started to win balls in the air started to bring Reach into the game, however Wednesday could have had a third when Bannan fired in a goal bound shot which was superbly saved by Pickford.
Hugill and Doyle both missed great chances from crosses from Reach. Deservedly Browne reduced the arrears with 20 minutes to go, Reach was then denied by a goal line clearance and Westwood saved well from a Welsh drive.
Wednesday started to waste time the ball boys appeared to be struck by paralysis, North End piled on the pressure but could not find another chink in the Wednesday defence.
Finally Wednesday added a third from a North End corner with all players including Pickford in the Wednesday area, the Owls broke away and from about 30 yards McGugan shot from 30 plus yards, the back peddling Pickford nearly saved it but it ensured the points were with the home side.


Sheffield Wednesday 3 Preston North End 1 Att 20383

Classic comedy gold on the way home, young Wednesday fan goes to kiss the badge on his shirt until he realised he had his hoodie zipped up. CLASSIC

Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:

"This is the Championship, the teams all the time believe they can change the score.

"It's most important that we win, we are in a sequence of a lot of games. It was a typical game from the Championship. We won and we have three points and that is the most important thing.

"The first goal was very important to us, at the break we were planning to try and correct everything.

"Everything belongs to the players, we have a fantastic group."

Preston manager Simon Grayson:

"It's a feeling of frustration, in the first half we were comfortable but we were the architects of our own downfall with all three goals.

"Up to the 44th minute we were comfortable, I have never known Hillsborough so quiet, our goalkeeper has not had a save to make, then we make a mistake and we made another one after half-time and we have a mountain to climb.

"We should have got something out of the game, we had Sheffield Wednesday on the back foot and had some really good opportunities to get something out of the game.

"But at Championship level you get punished if you make mistakes."

 

Things not going NE's way at the moment. Maybe JG should learn from the new England winger, Vardy...hard work, hard work, hard work. He has the skills, just needs to put them into gear.