Cracker for Pulis VITAL STATS
TONY PULIS could not hide his utter delight after claiming his first win as Sheffield Wednesday boss – at the NINTH time of asking.
The Welshman, 62, had endured a disastrous start to his Hillsborough reign but Tom Lees’s 67th-minute header (above) finally stopped the rot.
The centre-half arrived at the far post to connect with Barry Bannan’s free-kick and plant a firm header past Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson.
Significantly, the result lifted Wednesday off the bottom and came as monumental relief to Pulis.
Pulis, who has never been relegated in a 28-year managerial career, said: “Winning is everything and it has certainly been a long time coming.
“But it’s a long old season and there are enough games left to put a run together to stay in the division.
“It was a great goal and a clean sheet too, so things are looking up. The players gave so much today.” Coventry fought hard throughout and went close three times early on. Maxime Biamou drew a save from Keiren Westwood, Leo Ostigard headed wide and Biamou saw a shot blocked.
After the break Lees settled matters before escaping a penalty claim for handball by Coventry. Then Josh Windass fired straight at Wilson late on.
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins said: “We gave them a soft free-kick and they scored from it, but I thought we were the better team.
“We feel it was a game too far for us, but no heads should be hanging. We’ve got to move on from it really quickly.”
SHEFF WEDS: Westwood 6, Palmer 6, Lees 7, Dunkley 6, Reach 6, Harris 6, Paterson 6, Pelupessy 6, Bannan 8 (van Aken 83), Shaw 6 (Rhodes 64, 6), Windass 7 (Kachunga 90).
Unused subs: Wildsmith, Dele-Bashiru, Penney, Urhoghide, Brown, Hunt. COVENTRY: Wilson 6, Ostigard 6 (Giles 73, 6), McFadzean 6, Hyam 6, Dabo 6 (Dacosta 72, 6), Sheaf 7 (Kastaneer 83), Allen 6, McCallum 7, O’Hare 6, Walker 6 (Bakayoko 42, 6), Biamou 6 (Godden 73, 6). Unused subs: Camp, Pask, Shipley, Bapaga.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Barry Bannan. Kept driving the Owls forward and provided a captain’s example.
REFEREE: John Brooks 6.