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Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Town
Saturday, 20th Apr 2013 17:04

Jay Tabb scored his first goal for four and a half years as Town drew 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday as they continued, but were unable to complete, their march to Championship safety. The on-loan Reading man’s knee diverted home a Carlos Edwards long throw in the first half of a scrappy game in which the Owls equalised after the break through Leroy Lita.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made one change from the team which beat Crystal Palace 3-0 on Tuesday with Tabb returning to the side in place of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas at left midfield. Otherwise, the 18 was unchanged.

The Blues, in all white, came close to going in front in the sixth minute when Tommy Smith’s header at the far post from Tabb’s corner on the right was blocked on the line by Danny Pugh.

The home side had one or two moments where they threatened around the edge of the box in the early stages and on 11 one-time Blues trialist Jermaine Johnson headed a Giles Coke cross straight to Scott Loach when he should have tested the Town keeper more.

Within a minute, Town were in front. Carlos Edwards — a man who has scored and always won on all his previous visits to Hillsborough — sent in a long throw from the right which looped over Miguel Llera and Jay Tabb diverted the ball past Chris Kirkland at the near post from a few feet, to his surprise as much as anyone else's.

It wasn’t just Tabb’s first goal for the Blues, but the on-loan Reading man’s first since netting twice for Coventry at home to Southampton in October 2008.

Luke Hyam almost made it 2-0 in the 18th minute when he hammered a 25-yard strike which Kirkland did well to push away for a corner.

On 20 Johnson lashed wildly over for the Owls with Town feeling Llera had caught Daryl Murphy with an arm when he had initially won the ball.


Wednesday made a tactical substitution in the 25th minute when veteran striker Steve Howard took over from Kieran Lee as Dave Jones switched things around with Johnson moving to wide right. But three minutes later the Owls boss was forced into another change when Johnson pulled up with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Chris Maguire.

Despite the change around, the home side made little headway with the game largely scrappy and with a number of stoppages for minor injuries not helping the game’s flow. But on 40 sub Howard ought to have evened up the scores but headed over Pugh’s corner from the left when he clearly felt he ought to have done better.

The Owls went closer just before the break when former Norwich loanee Leroy Lita found the space to hit a shot on the turn which Loach stopped down to his right. Murphy half-cleared to Anthony Gardner, whose effort was scrambled off the line by Smith.

There were no more chances before referee Geoff Eltringham blew the whistle on what had been a rather scrappy 45 minutes with the Blues just about shading it.

The goal had had a touch of good fortune about it, while Wednesday had begun to look more threatening towards the break.

Town started the second half strongly and created most of the early chances, the again lively Frank Nouble just failing to get his head on an Edwards cross, then Guirane N’Daw volleyed wide from the edge of the box.

On 53 Nouble teed up Murphy on the edge of the area but the Irishman curled his low shot just wide. Two minutes later, Loach claimed Jeremy Helan’s deflected shot.

Wednesday created another opportunity soon after, Howard nodding the ball down to Llera but Luke Chambers threw himself in to make a superb challenge.

But an Owls goal wasn’t too much longer in coming. Lewis Buxton crossed from the right to Lita, who had escaped Richard Stearman at the far post, and the on-loan Swansea man slammed the ball past Loach.

The goal woke up the home fans as their team began to put the Blues under pressure, Llera just failing to make enough contact on one of a number of corners, the ball skimming wide of Loach’s left post.

On 64 Nouble and Edwards broke quickly after an Owls flagkick but the Trindadian’s shot was blocked for a corner which came to nothing. Four minutes later, Patrick Kisnorbo replaced Stearman, who had picked up a knock, the Australian slotting alongside Smith with Chambers moving to the right.

Llera curled a freekick to Loach on 75, but Town were beginning to come back into it, Nouble and Hyam both receiving the ball in promising areas inside the box but were unable to work an opportunity to shoot at goal.

Wednesday thought they were in front in the 77th minute when Lita headed Helan’s cross from the left home from a few yards out but from an offside position. Three minutes later, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replaced Murphy.

Town went close to grabbing a second goal in the 82nd minute when Kirkland failed a claim a long throw from the left and Nouble hooked it goalwards, only for Pugh to clear off the line for the second time during the afternoon. Soon after, Anthony Wordsworth took over from Tabb.

Neither side was able to create much in the remainder of what had been a scruffy game with a draw a fair result.

Town just about had the better of the first half, but the Owls were on top during the second, although the Blues also had one or two opportunities after the break.

The result sees Town move on to 57 points but down to 14th, six points clear of the relegation zone, however, still requiring another point to mathematically ensure survival, although it would now take a remarkable set of scorelines in the remaining two weeks for the Blues to take the drop into League One.

Town: Loach, Stearman (Kisnorbo 68), Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Hyam, N'Daw, Tabb (Wordsworth 83), Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 80), Nouble. Unused: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Drury, Chopra.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Llera, Helan, Lee (Howard 25), Coke, Olofinjana, Pugh, J Johnson (Maguire 28), Lita. Unused: Bywater, Taylor, Mattock, Prutton, McCabe, Howard. Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham). Att: 23,630.


Photo: Action Images



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bluemikey100 added 17:07 - Apr 20
BRUM SAFE ON 57 POINTS LAST WEEK DOES THAT MEAN WE SAFE NOW DUE TO CLUBS HAVE TO PLAY EACH OTHER ?
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blackcat added 17:09 - Apr 20
Boo
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oscarwhiting added 17:10 - Apr 20
Not a bad result, I reckon we will be safe by next weekend.
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RetroBlue added 17:10 - Apr 20
Cant grumble with a point today as SWFC are also a form side right now. Posh losing at Derby was a big result IMO . Shame the scum have survived by the skin of their teeth: But on the plus side that means we will be passing them on our way up next season!! COYB's

MM = God !
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Wickets added 17:14 - Apr 20
I make that that we can only go down on goal diff. if Wolves and Barnsley win both of their games and we lose both!
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TimmyH added 17:19 - Apr 20
Point predicted point gained, so all in all fairly happy and barring a mathematical disaster should be safe! Well done lads.
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TractorBeezer added 17:30 - Apr 20
We are safe now. According to Ipswich Player, we went to a 352 once Stearman went off. Sounds like the positives for us were a strong defence and another important point. However, much improvement needed for next season e.g. N'Daw not picking good passes, Nouble getting the ball but not really bringing others into the game and JET didn't do anything again (must be a real head scratcher for MM and TC.
The overall positive is our record since MM and TC came in...so they got the job done.
For some reason Ipswich Player was not providing the Ipswich feed so had to listen to the Sheffield feed. We are fortunate to have Brenner, Alex and Mick!!
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BlueMachines added 17:37 - Apr 20
Tractor breeze. JET only got 10 mins so hardly a surprise. Agree about Brenner. Not so sure about Mick and definitely disagree about Alex Mathie!!
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6fish added 17:41 - Apr 20
Though not mathematically safe it'd take some pretty weird wierdness along the lines of us losing 5-0 twice and Huddersfield losing to Barnsley but winning their other game.
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Elizabeth added 17:42 - Apr 20
Well done ... Should be okay now .. Looking forward to the match next Saturday .. Mick, Terry and the lads have managed to secure our safety .. Hopefully next season will prove to be successful .. This has not been an enjoyable season !
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bluefeast added 17:47 - Apr 20
Who ever goes down will be unlucky ,two sides with 50 odd points has never before been seen. Wolves look like they may well fall to me.
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SanDiego added 17:47 - Apr 20
Sheffield's commentators were terrible and monotonic. I had difficulty concentrating on what was going on and wasn't sure whether or not to celebrate when we scored. Luckily somebody flicked the switch at half time and Brenner was back.
Well done to everyone at ITFC for keeping us in the league.
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Len_Brennan added 17:52 - Apr 20
Surprising that Kisnorbo came on for Stearman rather than Hewitt at right back, needing Chambers to move over.
I think the best relegation result for us would be Wolves to go down; Stearman will be more likely sold then & at a more attainable price if they do. I have a feeling that Saunders will want him back if they stay up. Additionally, Mick & TC will be able to use their contacts & knowledge to pick up some other possible signings.
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Ollie added 17:54 - Apr 20
@ TractorBeezer - It was a BBC fault, but the feed came back up from half time.

Anyway, as Mick always says we can't complain about a point away from home. One more brick in the wall towards Championship survival
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StuartBrett8 added 17:56 - Apr 20
Feel sorry for blades fan's having to listen to that dross every week lol

Good point, should be enough :)
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TractorBeezer added 17:56 - Apr 20
Len, I think that Kisnorbo slotted in with Luke and Tommy with Carlos and Arun operating as wingbacks
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TractorBeezer added 17:59 - Apr 20
Thanks Ollie. I neglected to mention that I did get Brenner and co in the second half...thank goodness.
Agree a good point...but again not pretty!
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neillrumsey added 18:08 - Apr 20
A point is not too bad away to the Owls but having lead for so long we still can't seem to kill games off. Wolves for the drop and Rbanks-Blake to Ipswich for sure.
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muccletonjoe added 18:16 - Apr 20
I will eat my socks if we get relegated now
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carlo88 added 18:24 - Apr 20
Not necessarily 6fish, if Huddersfield, Wolves and Peterborough win both their games and we don't get a point we'll go down whatever the scores!

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ManningtreeBlue99 added 18:41 - Apr 20
Is it even mathematically possible for us to be relagated now? With teams below us playing each other?
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6fish added 18:45 - Apr 20
Actually no because then Sheff Weds and Burnley would also need to win their other games. As I say some pretty weird weirdness would be needed.
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Fatcatevans added 18:49 - Apr 20
That's so not true carlo88. Even if Huddersfield Wolves and Peterborough did win and we lost there are 7 other teams below us who if they lose their two games obviously would still finish below us. Wolves have to go to Brighton on the last day who need to cement a playoff place. We will be fine. Mick the cheques in the post!
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 18:51 - Apr 20
And Blackburn and millwall would both need to win. Impossible as they play each other on Monday
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Fatcatevans added 18:56 - Apr 20
I think you!ll find they could overtake us despite that as Millwall have two games in hand on us and Blackburn one. Unlikely to happen though
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