Liam keeps Owls afloat
LIAM PALMER’S first goal in 11 years guided Sheffield Wednesday to a vital win as they fight for survival in the Championship.
The defender, 29, was the unlikely hero after a long throw from Callum
Paterson caused problems and Preston failed to clear.
Victory – the Owls’ fourth on the bounce at home – steered them to within four points of fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest and concluded a turbulent week at Hillsborough.
Paul Cook is unlikely to become their third manager of the season after he reportedly rejected a shortterm deal, something owner Dejphon Chansiri denied.
Adviser Erik Alonso quit citing ‘forces around the club’ and reports state several players have not been paid their full wages.
Caretaker manager Neil Thompson focused on his side’s character after they bounced back from the midweek loss at Coventry, saying: “It was good to see one out and the biggest thing for me was getting a reaction after midweek and that is always key. You’ve got to be able to bounce back and I thought all the players – from one to 11 to the subs – showed an awful lot of character.”
He added: “Work-rate is free – it doesn’t cost a penny. It’s a given, you’ve got to have that and then we’re looking for who has got that bit of quality to tell at the end of the game.”
The Owls had the better of the opening stages.
Paterson created space on the edge of the area before shooting wide and Elias Kachunga cut the ball back after some neat interplay only for it to go across the six-yard box.
Ben Whiteman’s shot from distance was spilled by home keeper Keiren Westwood and the former Sheffield United player drilled a freekick wide.
The Owls went ahead just before the break slightly against the run of play.
Westwood clawed Brad Potts’ shot away for a corner and Whiteman got underneath a shot from Jayson Molumby’s cut-back and blazed wide.
Barry Bannan’s swerving, goalbound shot was tipped over by Daniel Iversen while Scott Sinclair could not direct a free header on target
Preston remain 11th and boss Alex Neil said: “We were controlling the game in the first half. I think the goal was a shocker.
“That’s probably the biggest disappointment for me.”
Westwood 7; Palmer 7, Lees 7, Hutchinson 7, Urhoghide 7; Reach 6 (Luongo 80), Pelupessy 6, Bannan 8, Penney 6; Kachunga 6 (Windass 71, 6), Paterson 6 (Rhodes 83). Unused Subs: Wildsmith, Harris, Marriott, Börner, Green, Dele-Bashiru.
Iversen 6; Browne 6, Huntington 6, Davies 6, Hughes 6 (Rafferty 78); Ledson 6 (Johnson 67, 6), Whiteman 7; Sinclair 6, Molumby 6 (Bodin 78), Potts 6 (Barkhuizen 67, 6); Riis Jakobsen 6 (Cunningham 78). Hudson, Bayliss, Storey, Evans.
Barry Bannan. Worked tirelessly looking to galvanise Owls and unlock Preston defence.
Andre Marriner .