Owls let in late Lions equaliser

An 89th minute slip-up, quite literally, cost the Owls three points on Saturday as Millwall left Hillsborough with 1-1 draw, to keep their impressive away record intact. Wednesday had gone ahead through Efan Ekoku just four minutes into the second half, but Richard Sadlier pounced on a bit of bad luck for Leigh Bromby to slot home the leveller for the Lions.

A long ball over the top was almost Millwall's last ditch effort and an unfortunate slip by Leigh Bromby, who in the process pulled him hamstring, allowed Sadlier in on goal. Kevin Pressman ran off his line but the Lions forward made no mistake in curling it round the veteran keeper. The Owls were left bitterly disappointed at having not taken what would have been three important league ponts, after last week's shocking 3-0 defeat away to Barnsley. They now have two away league matches in a row, where points will be hard to come by.

Terry Yorath, as reported in the match preview on AnzOwls, handed out Owls debut's to Middlesbrough man Dean Windass, and Manchester United's left-winger Bojan Djordvic, understudy to Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs. Both players made promising contributions in their first appearances in the blue and white of Sheffield Wednesday, in particular Swede Djordvic, who nearly celebrated his debut with one of the goals of the season. His 35 yard free-kick shortly into the second half rattled the Millwall crossbar, and minutes before Lions' keeper Tony Warner had to be on his toes to keep out a powerful header from the on-loan winger.

Ashley Westwood came closest to opening the scoring after nine minutes when he leaped to meet a Gerald Sibon cross only to steer his header wide of the goal. Sibon had been reverted to the right hand side of midfield to make way for a new look striking partnership of Ekoku and Windass. Djordvic had replaced Owen Morrison, who was only able to make the substitutes bench. Four minutes later Pressman was called upon for the first time when Sadlier raced through on goal. The Sheffield born shotstopper did well in smothering the ball and denying Millwall the opening goal.

The visitors had taken the inituative throughout the first half but in the 36th minute they were to pay for some sloppy defending. Stuart Nethercott clumsily tripped over Bojan Djordvic, and the referee was left with little choice other than to award the Owls a spot-kick infront of the Leppings Lane end. Gerald Sibon stepped up and, uncharacteristically, missed a golden chance to give the Owls the lead when his somewhat soft spot-kick was saved low to his left by Warner. His casual approach to the penalty may encourage Yorath to re-consider the priortity for penalty takers.

That was in the 37th minute, and five minutes later it was new-boy Dean Windass who was holding his head in his hands after Warner twice denied him from close range with his legs. Gerald Sibon got the ball wide on the right, following some casual defending from the Millwall backline, and smashed it across low for Windass whose first time shot was saved by Warner. His follow up effort, this time on his left peg, was again saved by the Millwall man.

Warner was again the hero right on half-time, as he saved Efan Ekoku's effort.

Half-time: Owls 0-0 Millwall

Three minutes after the break Wednesday did get their goal. Djordvic swung in a left-wing cross where an unmarked Efan Ekoku ran in to glance the header past a beaten Tony Warner for the Nigerian's fifth goal of the season.

Djordvic was starting to cause trouble for the Londoners and in the 53rd minute he hit what would have been a contender for goal of the season. His outrageous 40 yard off-centre free-kick suprised everybody, including Warner, and there was only inches in the ball rolling under the crossbar and into the back of the net. As it was, his effort rattled off the bar and Millwall defenders were able to scramble the ball to safety. The Swede's effort would have matched, if not bettered, Michele Di Piedi's quite outstanding 25 yard bicycle kick against Sunderland a few months ago.

Wednesday seemed comfortably on their way to a good home victory, and Sibon nearly ensured that fact if his 81st minute free-kick hadn't gone the wrong side of the post. Then, without only minutes remaining, Millwall lumped a long ball forward and Sadlier was able to curl the ball into the back of the net infront of the delerious away fans who celebrated their side's late equaliser.

The Owls now face three games in seven days, with a Quarter-Final Worthington Cup tie sandwiched between league visits to Gillingham and West Bromwich Albion respectively.