Sheff Wed 2-1 Walsall : Match Report

 

Goals: Owusu, Quinn (SW) Matias (W)

Bookings: Holt, Mclaren (SW) Samways (W)

Referee: A Leake (Lancs)

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Sheffield Wed Pressman, Bromby, Wood, Smith, Westwood, Barry-Murphy, Quinn, Haslam, McLaren, Kuqi, Holt Subs: Stringer, Owusu, O'Donnell, Jon Shaw, Richard Evans.

Walsall: Walker, Roper, Barras, Emblen, Wrack, Aranalde, Samways, Robinson, O'Connor, Junior, Leitao. Subs: Ward, Bazeley, Corica, Matias, Lawrence.

 

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Report: Neil Emblen replaced Darren Bazeley in the Walsall backline as the Saddlers went 3-5-2. Jamie Lawrence made the bench after recovering from injury.

It was your typical end of season encounter with neither side really looking interested during the first half. If any side had the better of the half it was certainly the Saddlers with both Barass and Junior having good chances. Kuqi looked to be the Owls danger man, but he failed to trouble the Walsall back 3.

The second half saw Leitao and O'Connor being replaced by Matias and Lawrence. It was  Matias who sent the Saddlers in front on 56 minutes with a low shot from just inside the penalty which the Owls keeper had little chance of spotting due to the amount of boxes inside the penalty area.

The Wednesday equalizer came courtesy of Sub Lloyd Owusu who was watched by the Saddlers defenders as the ball dropped to his feet just yards away from the Walsall goal. He wasted no time in putting the ball in to the back of the net and the Owls were back in the game.

Owusu went on to dominate the closing stages of the game, providing the Owls with a physical presence in the final third (something we lacked after Jorge's substitution). He had 2 or 3 half chances and eventually laid on the winner for Owls player of the season James Quinn who hammered the ball home as Roper hesitated to make a challenge as he shot.

 

 

League Table

17	Walsall	46	15	9	22	57	69	54
18	Derby County	46	15	7	24	55	74	52
19	Bradford City	46	14	10	22	51	73	52
20	Cov City	46	12	14	20	46	62	50
21	Stoke City	46	12	14	20	45	69	50
22	Wednesday	46	10	16	20	56	73	46
23	Brighton	46	11	12	23	49	67	45
24	Grimsby Town	46	9	12	25	48	84	39

 

 

 

 

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