Owl’s Rohl with it as Cundle strikes

YOUNG Lewis Cundle threw Stoke a lifeline with his first goal for Stoke – and it came just three minutes after he came on as a sub.

The 21-year-old Wolves loanee kept his cool and angled the ball past keeper James Beadle.

His super strike wiped off Liam Palmer’s opener for the Owls which was itself a classic. It might only have been his second of the season, but it was a belting first-time blast that zipped past keeper Daniel Iversen.

Stoke boss Steven Schumacher accepted that his side had won “a vital point” to keep his side out of the bottom three.

And he added: “I think we will need four points from the last three games.

“It does look like the relegation battle will go to the last game.

“But we can’t think about that. The next game is our only focus.”

Owls’ manager Danny Rohl said: “It’s a result that is hard to take. We dominated but failed to take our chances.

“We have not done enough to get out of the bottom three yet, but now we target the remaining nine points. It is my job to lift the players.”

Rohl added: “The one time we weren’t organised, they scored. Stoke knew beforehand how we play but they made their subs just before the goal and that had an effect.”

Wednesday threw everything into attack from the off and could have been two or three up in the first 15 minutes.

An effort by Canadian International Ike Ugbo was tipped over, Michael Ihiekwe had a shot blocked and Michael Smith hit the bar, and then had a ‘goal’ disallowed for a foul.

SHEFF WEDS: Beadle 7; Palmer 8 (Iorfa (90) 4), Ihiekwe 8, Famewo 6; Valentin 6 (Musaba (90) 4), Bannan 7, Vaulks 6, Johnson 6; Windass 6 (Paterson (67) 6), Smith 7 (Gassama (84) 5), Ugbo 6 (Cadamarteri (90) 4)

STOKE: Iversen 7; Wilmot 6, McNally 6, Rose 6 (Manhoef (74) 5), Thompson 6; Baker 6 (Cundle (73) 6), Burger 6 (Stevens (49) 6), Leris 6; Laurent 6, Haksabanovic 6 (Bae (46) 6), Campbell 7 (Lowe (84) 5)

STAR MAN: Michael Ihiekwe – An all-action performance and set up Wednesday’s goal.

REF: Steve Martin 7