A wonder Wall keeps Carl hitting high notes
A SENSATIONAL goal from Ross Wallace and a close-range finish from Fernando Forestieri gave Sheffield Wednesday a vital victory over promotion rivals Huddersfield.
With both sides jostling for position amongst the Championship’s leading bunch this could prove to be a significant result.
Jack Payne was sent-off for the visitors but they remain well in the promotion picture despite this loss and were on an equal footing until their hosts turned on the heat in the second half.
Wednesday coach Carlos Carvalhal said: “It was an amazing goal from Wallace, a typical Ross Wallace goal.
“He deserved this goal. We gave him permission to let fly and he flew!”
The visitors were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Payne was given a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Wednesday’s Sam Hutchinson.
Carvalhal added: “I didn’t see the red card, I was too far away. But I think Forestieri should have had a penalty.
“Sam Winnall really affected the game, he’s a good player and made a big impact, just like Callum McManaman. When we win, we win together.”
Huddersfield boss David Wagner said: “Three big decisions went against us. Nahki Wells was fouled in the build-up to the first goal, the red card was harsh and Forestieri might have been offside for the second goal.
“I think we shouldn’t forget we were against one of the best teams in the division.
“The first half was very good but the second half was only okay. After the red card, the game changed.”
On the dismissal, Wagner added: “I have spoken to Jack Payne. To be fair, I know him and he’s one of the nicest players on the planet.
“He doesn’t have the genes to want to stamp on someone. Unfortunately he came too late. It was a yellow, not a red.”
In added time, Forestieri sealed the three points as he tapped in from close range after substitute McManaman’s good work in the penalty box.
He was top man at Bournemouth 12 days ago when inspiring the Gunners to come from 3-0 down to grab a miraculous point.
It was exactly the same this time last week in the FA Cup at Preston when he popped up with a last-gasp winner.
And the prolific Frenchman was at it again yesterday at the Liberty Stadium as he scored for the fifth game in a row to keep Arsenal’s title dreams alive and kicking.
One chance is all deadly Giroud requires these days to make his mark. His 35th-minute tap-in here was his first meaningful moment against the Swans.
That took his tally for the campaign to 10 – and was the perfect way for the once-maligned hitman to celebrate signing a new deal 48 hours earlier.
It also helped ensure Arsenal, despite being off colour for long spells, would maintain their interest in the race for domestic supremacy.
Two unlucky Swansea own-goals after the break – both stemming from Alex Iwobi efforts – and another from Alexis Sanchez sealed a vital second away win in six outings – and lifted Arsene Wenger’s men into third place.
The only setback for Arsenal was the sight of Giroud hobbling off on the hour mark. Wenger said: “He has an ankle problem but we won’t know how serious until the doctor looks at it.
“He was limping quite a bit in the first half but then he often walks around with a limp!”
Wenger was also quizzed about Alexis Sanchez’s shirty reaction to being hauled off late on but dismissed the incident as irrelevant.
The Emirates chief added: “We have strikers on the bench. We have competition in those places. It was a good opportunity to give Sanchez a little rest.
“I’ve been in the job long enough not to worry about that sort of reaction. South Americans are different to Europeans.”
Such a hefty-looking rout was harsh on new Swansea boss Paul Clement. Until Giroud’s opener, his strugglers were actually on top.
But he expects to sign Spurs midfielder Tom Carroll and Norwich defender Martin Olsson this week and said: “It’s not enjoyable to get beaten by that scoreline. I was hoping for better. We had