Sheffield Wednesday hit back with a much improved second half display to pick up a point at home to Bournemouth, a result which sees both sides maintain their top four places in the League One table.
Alan Irvine made two changes to the side that started the 2-0 win at Yeovil last weekend. Mark Beevers returned in central defence with Lewis Buxton reverting to right-back in place of the suspended Jon Otsemobor and Giles Coke started on the left of midfield at the expense of Gary Teale.
A quiet opening period of the game saw the Owls produce two half chances with Tommy Miller heavily involved. The midfielder fired an effort over the bar and then had a well placed side foot shot parried away by Jalal in the Bournemouth goal, who may have been slightly unsighted as Miller attempted to curl the effort round a defender.
Despite an encouraging but unspectacular opening Wednesday seemed to lose their way as the half wore on and fell behind on 25 minutes. A low corner from Wiggins drifts towards the penalty spot where inexplicably, Garry is allowed the space and time to meet it on the volley and side foots home past the despairing efforts of O’Connor on the goal line.
The goal clearly gave the visitors a lift and further dented the confidence of the below par Owls. The Cherries spurned a couple of half chances to increase their lead from corners but they were looking comfortable in possession and Wednesday were not pressing enough in midfield areas to regain possession. Giles Coke looked somewhat lost on the left side and Clinton Morrison was having a frustrating time up front.
The half-time whistle prompted howls of derision from the Hillsborough faithful and Irvine reacted by replacing Morrison and O’Connor with Mellor and Teale for the start of the second period. Teale took up a wide left position with Coke coming into the centre of the park.
Wednesday had an early effort from Potter sail over the bar and Bournemouth responded 10 minutes into the half through Mcquoid, whose shot was tipped wide by Weaver in the Owls goal.
The change of personnel had clearly given the home side fresh impetus and left-back Jones tested Jalal with a low cross shot, Teale then rasped a drive just over the bar from the resulting corner. Wednesday continued to press and create chances, Tudgay’s snap shot was well held by Jalal and Mellor headed wide after good work from Jones.
Heffernan replaced Tudgay with just under 15 minutes remaining as the one way traffic continued and the deserved equaliser finally arrive with 8 minutes to go. The main threat throughout the second half had come from the Owls left side where Jones and Teale had combined well. The latter found some space to run into and drilled a teasing low cross into the box around six yards out where Mellor who did well to control his effort past the helpless Jalal.
Heffernan saw the ball clipped from his stride as he was about to shoot in the closing stages and Pearce headed a great chance wide from a long free-kick at the other end but a draw seemed a fair result after two very contrasting halves from the home side.
Having requested that the Hillsborough pitch be widened in the summer it seems a little strange that the Owls often opt to play central midfield players in wide positions, thus not making the most of the width. Coke and Miller are probably Wednesday’s two most creative players and many would like to see them given the chance as a pair in their preferred positions in central midfield. The impressive performance of Teale is likely to put him in contention for a start next time out while the return of Jermaine Johnson will also give the side more options out wide.
The draw extends Wednesday’s unbeaten run to 6 games in league and cup, a record that will be tested by Charlton Athletic at The Valley next Saturday.