GARETH IS BLANKED
England boss learns nothing
THE day didn’t work out as planned for either Gareth Southgate or Sheffield Wednesday’s Kosovan striker Atdhe Nuhiu.
Paying his first visit to Hillsborough as England boss, Southgate must have known it wasn’t going to be his day when highly-rated defender Alfie Mawson pulled out during the warm-up with a knee problem.
It left him with just Swansea’s Tammy Abraham to run the rule over, three months after handing the 20-year-old striker his first cap against Germany.
But Abraham hardly enhanced his World Cup prospects, finding the Owls’ defence just as tough as Premier League backlines in recent months.
Since finding the net twice against Huddersfield on October 14, his double in the 8-1 thrashing of Notts County in the previous round are his only goals in 17 appearances. And he never looked like adding to them here.
As for Nuhiu, he was left frustrated as much for historic reasons as footballing ones as he hoped to mark a special anniversary by becoming the FA Cup match-winner.
“Today was the 10th anniversary of Kosovo,” he said. “It’s a big thing for us.
“It became a country on February 17, 2008, and there are big celebrations in the capital Pristinia – Rita Ora is playing there for the first time.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t score to make it even nicer but it was a good performance. We are a proud people and such a small country, but we have a lot of great performers recognised worldwide like Xhaka and Shaqiri, world class footballers from Kosovo.”
While his compatriots play for Switzerland, Nuhiu has won seven caps since Kosovo became a footballing nation Dawson 7; SHEFF WED (3-5-1-1): 7, Fox 6; Hunt 6, Venancio 6, Pudil 70, 5), Jones 5, Butterfield 5 (Pelupessy 80); 6; Wallace 7 (Joao REACH 8, Boyd Loovens, Baker, Nuhiu 7. Subs: Nielsen. Wildsmith, Kirby, Championship, (a) UP NEXT: Millwall tomorrow. Nordfeldt 6; SWANSEA (4-3-3): 7, Van der NAUGHTON 8, Bartley 6; Ki 6, Carroll 7, Hoorn 7, Roberts (Dyer 79); Narsingh 5 Olsson 6 (Clucas 5 (J Ayew 67, 7) 64, 7), Abraham Mulder, Fernandez, Routledge 6. Subs: Maric, James. (a) Premier UP NEXT: Brighton League, Saturday. Tierney 6. Referee: Paul What was the scoreline YOUR TURN: FA Cup meeting in the only previous and Swansea, a between Wednesday 1962? Hillsborough in third-round tie at and still dreams of becoming the first international from his country to play in an FA Cup final.
“It would be amazing if that happened and our chance is still there,” he added. “Why not?
“I believe in it. Swansea are a Premier League team but there was not much difference between us. That is why I am still positive.”
Wednesday’s third-choice keeper Cameron Dawson kept the home side in it just before half-time when he foiled Mike van der Hoorn.
But in a match of few chances, neither side deserved to win or lose, ensuring another reunion tomorrow week for Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal with his former club.
The Portuguese remains popular and, half an hour after the end, he was being applauded by fans who had stayed to thank him for his efforts during two-and-ahalf years at Wednesday.
And for one long-time Owls supporter, he made it a 73rd birthday to remember as the two of them hugged warmly.
“It was emotional to come back after eight weeks,” said Carvalhal.
“I must thank the fans for the way they received me. At the end, it nearly made me cry seeing one whose birthday it was.
“I am very proud of what I achieved here and I am sure in five years’ time, the reaction will be even better.”