Sheffield Wednesday continued their encouraging start to the new season on Saturday, coming back from a goal down to leave with a creditable away draw at Colchester United.
As expected Alan Irvine made six changes to the starting 11 that had defeated Bury in unconvincing fashion in the Carling Cup in midweek, reverting back to the team that beat Dagenham and Redbridge on the opening day of the season.
The changes appeared to have the desired effect from the off as the visitors started brightly, the opening exchanges saw Owls winger Gary Teale heavily involved, cutting in from the left and firing an early effort wide then firing in a cross that just evaded midfielder James O’Connor.
Clinton Morrison shot over the bar when well positioned little more than six yards out following a flick on from strike partner Marcus Tudgay just after the half-hour mark. Morrison then went even closer to giving the Owls the lead, good work from Tudgay released Teale in to space down the left and his low centre was cleared to safety after the striker had bundled the ball on to the base of the post.
The home side began to come into the game towards the end of the half but had done little to threaten the Owls goal and Wednesday would have been disappointed to go back to the dressing rooms only on level terms.
Colchester made a much more imposing start to the second 45 and made Wednesday pay for not taking advantage of their first half display within five minutes of the restart.
Nicky Weaver was left helpless in the Wednesday goal as Andy Bond fired in a rasping drive. Striker Ian Henderson rolled the ball into the path of the midfield man just right of centre 25 yards out and Bond didn’t have to break stride as sweet strike put the home side into the ascendency.
The goal gave the U’s added zest and striker David Mooney twice came close to adding to the lead, which would possibly have put the game out of Wednesday’s reach, first firing wide before seeing a long range striker rebound off the foot of the same post that had denied the Owls in the first half.
Alan Irvine made two substitutions in a matter of minutes in order to rejuvenate the visitors, Mellor replacing Teale with half an hour to go then bringing on Potter for O’Connor.
Wednesday were by no means out of it but were failing to create many clear cut chances, Tudgay seeing an effort comfortably saved by Cousins in the home goal after doing well to create the space for himself.
As the game wore on Colchester became more cautious in their approach, looking to run down the clock and in the final ten minutes Irvine replaced left-back Tommy Spurr with the more attack minded Daniel Jones.
The Owls were rewarded with just seven minutes to go when a direct ball into the box from Darren Purse was only cleared as far as Mark Beevers on the edge of the area. The centre back headed the ball back into the danger area where Mellor controlled the ball on his head and used close control and power to juggle and bustle his way through two defenders before volleying home from close range, much to the delight of the travelling masses behind the goal.
The momentum had shifted back in the Owls favour following the equaliser but they were unable to carve out an opportunity to take three points as the match ended all square.
The game represented a tricky test of the Owls credentials and they should be reasonably pleased to come away from their first trip to the Weston Homes Community stadium with a point.
Colchester were only beaten on their own turf by the three sides that ended up getting promoted from League One last season and for a Wednesday team without an away win in ten attempts this represents a step in the right direction.
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Next up for the Owls is a home test against Gus Poyet’s Brighton and Hove Albion at Hillsborough next Saturday. This weekend also saw the draw for the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy take place and the Owls will take on Notts County at home in the week commencing 30th August.