HAPPY RETURN
But no goals as Owls frustrate former boss
men from South Wales certainly stunk out this theatre.
With a back three that was really a back five, an off-colour frontman in Tammy Abraham and seven changes from the side that has shown such improvement in the Premier League, Swansea were leaden, clunky and disjointed.
Yes, they had chances. Abraham should have had a penalty when he was shoved over by the otherwise excellent Daniel Pudil, while Mike van der Hoorn saw a close-range header spectacularly turned over by home-grown keeper Cameron Dawson.
But they were pinpricks of quality in a sea of mediocrity. Had Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay shown more ambition – in-form maverick Lucas Joao was dropped to the bench – the home side might have prospered.
As it was, they too fed off scraps. The best fell to Adam Reach. The first, just seconds after kick-off, saw the Owls skipper blast a shot at Kristoffer Nordfeldt. And the second, moments before the final whistle, saw him inexplicably cross when clean through. Joao, the intended recipient, could only bundle wide under pressure.
“We did not want a replay,” insisted Luhukay, who singled out giant striker Atdhe Nuhiu for special praise after a battling, bruising 90 minutes up top.
“We tried to win, but we have a very small squad at the minute so it is hard. I was very proud to see their effort and character.
“For everyone in football, the dream is to go to Wembley at least once in your career. For us, that possibility is still alive. We have a good feeling and we will take that to Swansea.”