Persistent Owls take the sting out of the busy Bees
THE PRE-MATCH worries that Sheffield Wednesday harboured ahead of last night’s encounter were not anything to do with the onset of Storm Aileen.
Conversely, they centred on the arrival of a Brentford side who snatched three points on their last visit on a blustery and tempestuous February night which also saw referee Darren Bond at the centre of a storm or two.
That 2-1 winter defeat brought a reality check to the Owls, just when optimism was rising after four straight league victories, with most of those who assembled at Hillsborough just under seven months on being anxious that the Londoners did not take the wind out of the hosts’ sails again.
Brentford proved bothersome again and it was clearly apparent that Carlos Carvalhal knew what he was talking about in his assertion that they were in a false position, despite no wins in their opening six matches.
After being able to relax in his seat in the stands for much of Wednesday’s accomplished 3-1 weekend victory over Nottingham Forest, Carvalhal would have cut a rather more agitated figure as he served out the final game of his two-match touchline ban, particularly in the first half.
Thankfully, the Owls’ much more forceful second-half showing would have been rather more to his liking as his side overcame adversity to extend their unbeaten Championship sequence to six games by chiselling out a win of character in difficult conditions.
The teams may have been separated by 13 places in the embryonic Championship table, but there were similarities in that both are acclimatising to life without two off-the-cuff attacking talents in Jota and Fernando Forestieri – for differing reasons.
Wednesday can at least sleep soundly in the knowledge that they still possess two artful operators in Gary Hooper and Ross Wallace and both underlined that point last night.
After falling behind early on when Kieran Westwood blotted his copybook by inexplicably letting Nico Yennaris’ routine volley horribly squirm under him, the hosts were forced to dig deep, while being aided by some questionable Bees finishing.
The Owls persisted and got their reward in first-half stoppage time when Hooper underlined his value by showing a delightful deftness of touch and cute attacking instincts to restore parity with his fourth goal of the season.
But it was Wallace who had the decisive word 20 minutes from time, stabbing home from close range after a corner was not cleared.
Brentford did provide a late scare in a colossal period of 14 minutes of stoppage time – after Henrik Dalsgaard was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury – when Neal Maupay clipped the post, but the hosts held out in the wind and rain.
There was inevitable speculation as to whether Carvalhal would stick or twist with his lineup after Saturday’s highs and in something of a rarity, he resisted the temptation to play Tinkerman and named the same side who displayed such prowess from the off. Producing another imposing start was probably high in his thoughts when he elected to name the same XI.
In the event, the opposite occurred with Brentford flying out of the blocks and showing fluid movement and prowess on the ball in a strong first-half in which they carried on from where they left off in a dominant weekend performance at Villa Park.
Yet their one first-half reward was due to an uncharacteristically awful moment for Westwood in a moment that he will prefer to forget. The Owls’ immediate response was initially positive, with Daniel Bentley tipping over Wallace’s drive and Tom Lees then going close before the Bees assumed command, with Yennaris at the hub of operations.
From his sweet pass, Maupay went close to a second, with Westwood getting a faint touch. Maupay then spurned a closerange chance before more lovely work from Yennaris sent Romaine Sawyers clear, but his finish was weak. It proved a key moment and just as Wednesday were turning their attentions to regrouping at the interval, a leveller arrived against the run of play.
Adam Reach’s clever flick found Hooper and he gave Yoannn Barbet the slip before dinking the ball over Bentley. It was a psychological blow for the Bees, who found themselves under some rather more concerted pressure on the resumption.
Bentley blocked efforts from the increasingly influential Barry Bannan and Kieran Lee.
After Bannan went close, it was left to Wallace to milk the acclaim in front of a relieved Kop. STRUGGLING ASTON Villa again failed dismally to improve their lowly position as they were held by Middlesbrough to their second goalless Championship home draw in the space four days.
Villa had few excuses as for an hour they battled against 10man Middlesbrough after Adama Traore had been sent off in the fourth minute.
In a game which failed to hit any high notes, Villa’s Henri Lansbury was also shown red midway through the second half as the pressure increased on his boss Steve Bruce.
The game exploded in dramatic fashion in only the third minute when Traore received a direct red card on his return to Villa Park
The former Barcelona player took out former Barnsley midfielder Conor Hourihane with a sliding tackle with both players finishing on the touchline.
Referee James Linington consulted his linesman before brandishing the red card much to the anguish of the former Villa defender.
Villa’s poor finishing was highlighted when Davies cleverly put Robert Snodgrass in possession only for the Scot to shoot weakly straight at goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
As to be expected Middlesbrough had to mount a rearguard action but Villa’s weak attempts to open the scoring were illustrated by Randolph making easy saves from Lansbury and Snodgrass.
The barren first half resulted in Villa drafting in Scott Hogan and Albert Adomah but the home side still conspired to make heavy weather of their task.
Five minutes into the second half, former Boro winger Adomah produced a left wing cross which Snodgrass met with a shot which rattled the crossbar.
Both teams were on a level footing in the 63rd minute of an untidy game when Lansbury received a straight red card for needless tripping substitute Marvin Johnson.
Villa’s current plight was emphasised late in the game when Hogan himself blocked Hourihane’s shot while on Middlesbrough’s goalline.