‘Owls still have belief’
THE misery is almost over for Sheffield Wednesday.
Six points deducted, five managers later, four points adrift from safety, they are heading, almost certainly, to League One for the first time since 2011-12.
Yannick Bolasie broke the deadlock for Boro, but Josh Windass levelled from the spot before teenager Josh Coburn grabbed a goal on his home debut to condemn the crisis-ravaged Owls to yet another defeat.
The 6ft3in striker rose to head home Neeskens Kebano’s cross in just his second outing for Neil Warnock’s side. Pinched from nearby Sunderland, the 18-year-old looked a proper handful.
Boro added a third when Duncan Watmore scrambled home Bolasie’s ball. Bolasie had smashed home his third goal of the season after 20 minutes to open the scoring.
The winger seized on a poor first touch by Julian Borner 40 yards out and ran unchallenged to rifle into the top corner.
Wednesday have not won a single point from losing positions in this terrible Championship campaign. And so it was to be again despite Windass tucking away only their third equaliser of the season when he converted a penalty before half-time.
The game was delayed when Wednesday defender Tom Lees suffered a bad ankle injury.
It has been a season of turmoil for the Owls. Garry Monk started the campaign as manager and was replaced by Tony Pulis in November, who himself lasted only 45 days.
Neil Thomson took caretaker charge until March. Darren Moore quit Doncaster to take up the reins, but he has been in hospital battling Covid, leaving Jamie Smith to run the show.
Assistant boss Smith said: “We still have a chance, we will keep fighting.
“We have to beat Forest. Three points, whatever it takes. There is still a belief.”
They face relegation rivals Derby on the last day.
Smith added: “I am disappointed. We had chances. It was a lack of concentration. Maybe I have to scream at them from the sidelines more?”
Boro boss Warnock said: “I might have a large scotch tonight. It is not often you beat Sheffield Wednesday.
“Having both Sheffield clubs relegated is diabolical. They have to beat Forest. If they do that, Derby are under immense pressure.”
MIDDLESBROUGH: Archer 7; Mcnair 6, Hall 6, Bola 6; Kebano 7 (Spence 79), Saville 6, Howson 6, Johnson 6; Watmore 7, Bolasie 7 (Malley 89); Akpom 5 (Coburn 65, 7).
Unused subs: Bettinelli, Robinson, Kokolo, Hackney.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Westwood 5; Hutchinson 5, Lees 6 (Urhoghide 38, 5), Borner 5 (Hunt 82); Palmer 5, Pelupessy 5, Bannan 6, Reach 5; Green 7 (Harris 82), Paterson 5 (Rhodes 71); Windass 6. Unused subs: Penney, Dele-bashiru, Shaw, Wildsmith, Kachunga
MAN O F THE MATCH: Yannick Bolasie. Full of tricks and running with a goal and an assist, and Warnock has a decision to make on his future.
REFEREE: Jarred Gillett 7.