Owls follow defeat to winless Wycombe with victory over unbeaten Bournemouth
Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed a much needed home win on Tuesday evening as they saw off previously unbeaten Bournemouth 1-0 at Hillsborough.
Few would have predicted the result following 4 straight defeats against Brentford, Luton, Rotherham and Wycombe but some of Wednesday’s faithful fans will see this as the typical nature of their team.
Garry Monk’s side deserved the result. The Owls have struggled for points and goals at home in 2020 but started this game on the front foot. Reach saw an on-target shot deflected wide, Palmer headed wide when really well placed and Windass fired a free-kick just off target. Having failed to profit from their ascendancy, Owls fans would have been forgiven for thinking it might not be their night but other than a Mepham header over the bar from a corner and a long range striker from Danjuma that Wildsmith comfortably tipped over the bar, the visitors showed little to reflect their good start to the season.
The Cherries did however create a good chance in the early stages of the second half, a low ball across the box found Brooks at the far post but the former Sheffield United man saw his effort deflected round the post by Julian Borner.
With 20 minutes to go the game turned decisively in the home sides favour. Bannan produced a pinpoint pass from in his own half to pick out the run of Windass how went round Begovic before being sent to the ground by a combination of the keeper and defender Steve Cook. The referee deemed Cook’s contribution to the foul to be worthy of a red card and Bannan made no mistake from the penalty spot, sending Begovic the wrong way.
Bournemouth failed to trouble Wednesday in the closing stages and Paterson could have made the game safe late on, Begovic making the save after Bannan sent his fellow Scot through on goal. Kadeem Harris received a red card in injury time, seemingly for a combination of a rash tackle and a reaction in the tangle that followed but the Owls managed to see the game out for only their second victory at Hillsborough in 2020.