Sam’s the saviour as Owls land vital point
SAM WINNALL’S equaliser earned Sheffield Wednesday their first point – but fans had to endure another day of frustration at Hillsborough.
Jamie Mackie’s opening goal for QPR was cancelled out by Winnall early in the second half.
The first real chance of the game fell to Daniel Pudil for Wednesday in the 12th minute when Barry Bannan whipped in an inviting delivery which landed straight on the head of the defender but he could not direct his header on target.
Wednesday squandered another good chance to take the lead in the 18th minute when Gary Hooper’s ball from the right found the head of his strike partner Jordan Rhodes whose nod on was well held by Alex Smithies.
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute for QPR as Mackie was played in on goal by Luke Freeman and coolly slotted the ball underneath keeper Keiren Westwood.
Wednesday seemed to lack any cutting edge during the first 45 minutes, hampered by the loss of captain Glenn Loovens and Sam Hutchinson to first-half injuries.
However, they finally found some rhythm in the 43rd minute with Adam Reach pulling the ball back to the penalty spot only for substitute Winnall to slice his shot harmlessly wide of goal, adding to the frustration among the home supporters.
The Owls finally got their Championship campaign up and running in the 48th minute, though, as Bannan crossed from the left and QPR captain Nedum Onuoha missed his chance to clear, leaving Winnall free at the back post to smash home an equaliser.
That goal seemed to ignite the hosts. Bannan again found space inside the box and he picked out Winnall at the far post, who should have done better with the whole of the goal to aim at.
QPR could have won it in the 84th minute when Connor Washington raced towards goal from the right before unselfishly squaring the ball to sub Kazenga LuaLua, who shot wide from inside the box.