DAWSON KEEPS BLADES OFF TOP
Penalty expert does it again to save Wednesday
TAP ‘ Cameron Dawson’ and ‘penalty save’ into your search engine of choice and it is clear the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper has form.
Four years ago, playing on loan for Alfreton in a 1-0 win at Altrincham, for instance. Then there was one in last week’s 4-0 thrashing by Norwich.
Doing it in a derby, however, deserves a special pat on the back.
Dawson earned himself instant elevation to cult status in the blue half of the city with a brilliant penalty save to deny David McGoldrick.
Andrew Madley did not hesitate to point to the spot as Mark Duffy crumpled under a challenge from Morgan Fox but the golden opportunity was wasted.
Glove firmly slapped across the face in a pre-match invitation to a Sheffield duel.
Judging by the way United set off at 100mph, Wilder’s pre-match talk was equally lively. The mood, sombre and respectful for Remembrance Day, switched instantly with the home side aiming for an early breakthrough.
Billy Sharp, 32 years old and on 10 league goals already this season, was the focal point but it was team-mate John Fleck who had the first meaningful shot. His long-range effort was pushed clear by Dawson.
Wilder’s gung- ho positivity came backed up by relevant data. A draw would take his team into the top two, a win would put them two points clear.
Then there is the derby record — United have lost one out of 15 home games against Wednesday and that was in 2009.
Contrast that with the case for the visitors — four defeats on the bounce going into this match and questions once again being asked of coach Jos Luhukay.
Doing over the neighbours is usually a decent time-buying ploy but to succeed Wednesday needed some more possession. Steven Fletcher managed to out-muscle Chris Basham on a rare foray but the move finished with the striker’s halfvolley flying off target.
Ollie Norwood needed to recalibrate his radar, too, as a curling shot cleared the bar. He duly tried again only to see his effort cut out by Michael Hector’s header.
Wednesday deserve credit for some strong defending, sometimes six, seven, even eight men at the back.
When McGoldrick fashioned an opening for himself, he was again foiled by Dawson.
Old boys Phil Jagielka, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire all popped in to cheer on United, a reminder of what a breeding ground this club has been.
l MITCHELL Pinnock scored in injury-time as League One Wimbledon knocked Haringey Borough from football’s seventh tier out of the FA Cup last night.
It was Haringey’s first ever appearance in the first round of the world’s oldest cup competition and inspired goalkeeper Valery Pajetet kept them level until the late heartbreaker.