LIAM LOOKS A SHAW BET FOR BIG TIME

ANDY HOLDSWORTH is backing teenage hot-shot Liam Shaw for a bright future as Wednesday ended their Exeter curse.

The defender produced a stunning assist for Callum Paterson to book Owls a place in the fourth round for a fourth straight season.

Shaw (above, with Paterson) was joined by fellow youngsters Ciaran Brennan, 20, and Ryan Galvin, 19, as Wednesday won at St James Park for the first time in their history.

Academy coach Holdsworth stood in for coronavirus-hit caretaker manager Neil Thompson, with former Wigan boss Paul Cook lined up to take charge on a permanent basis.

Shaw, 19, won the plaudits for an electric 90-yard burst after robbing Nigel Atangana and setting up Paterson for his third goal in his last three games.

Holdsworth said: “The thing with Liam is he can play anywhere. He can play centrehalf, centre midfield, and he has even played centre-forward.

“It’s not often you see centrehalves doing pirouettes in midfield or 90-yard runs for an assist. He knows how to play.”

Adam Reach conjured a moment of magic to fire the Owls ahead as Exeter’s 40-year wait to reach the fourth round goes on.

The Owls have won four out of five since Tony Pulis was axed after just 10 games in charge.

Exeter defender Tom Parkes said: “The manager is disappointed and that’s understandable. We need to put this behind us and focus on the league campaign.”

EXETER: Ward 6, Caprice 6, McArdle 5, Parkes 6, Page 6 (Sparkes 46, 7), Key 6, Taylor 6 (Atangana 77), Collins 6, Randall 6 (Ajose 77), Jay 6 (Law 61, 6), Bowman 6 (Seymour 61, 5). SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Wildsmith 7, Obubajo 7, Brennan 7, Shaw 7, Galvin 6 (Eratt-Thompson 90), Harris 6, Hunt 6 (Dele-Bashiru 65, 6), Bannan 8, Pelupessy 6, Reach 7, Paterson 6 (Rice 90).

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone