Wednesday battle out point with Baggies

West Brom left Hillsborough yesterday pleased knowing they had fought hard for their first point of the season. For the Owls it was a different story. They had high hopes of grabbing all three points over Gary Megson's side, but in the end had to settle for a 1-1 draw scoreline.

The minute's silence before the game in memory of Owls youngster Tom Staniforth was held brilliantly by both home and away supporters. It has been an emotional week for many at the club, and it was just a shame Wednesday couldn't win the game today in memory of the fine young defender.

The Owls did get off to a great start though, taking the lead as early as the 5th minute. Efan Ekoku was fouled on the edge of the box and although Gerald Sibon had originally already taken the free-kick, the referee ordered a re-take as Des Lyttle was booked for encroachment. The Dutchman made no mistake second time around - smashing the ball into the top right hand corner, via the post, to leave Russell Hoult no chance in the Albion goal.

Young defende Leigh Bromby was again proving to be a nuisance with his long throw-ins, already being used frequently as an attacking option by Peter Shreeves. Steven Haslam, yet to score his first goal for the Owls despite having notched up some 54 first team appearances, fired narrowly over midway through the first half.

Wednesday let themselves down badly though in the 25th minute, allowing the visitors to get back into the game. Larus Sigurdsson headed the ball into the danger area from a Neil Clement corner, and on-loan Sunderland striker Danny Dichio outjumped Kevin Pressman to head the ball into the net for Albion's equaliser.

Five minutes before the break Dichio nearly had his second goal for the Baggies, but his header instead came back off the Wednesday crossbar.

Alan Quinn was guilty of throwing away a great scoring chance on the brink of the half-time whistle. Pressman's long clearance found Sibon, who in turn found Efan Ekoku. The big forward picked out the young Irishman Quinn but his shot from 15 yards out was tipped wide by Hoult. Shreeves later reflected back on this chance as being the one that could've swung the game Wednesday's way.

Half-time: Owls 1-1 West Brom

During the second half it was Wednesday who looked the more likely to score, but they just couldn't find the back of the net. Header's from both Danny Maddix and Leigh Bromby failed to seriously test Hoult in the Albion goal, but both were perfectly good goal scoring opportunities.

Heads dropped slightly and that gave the Baggies the chance to score a winner. In the end, despite Wednesday having been the side more likely to go on to win the game, it was the home side who found themselves hanging on for a point.

In the 73rd minute Michael Appleton fired the ball over the bar, shortly after Dichio again could've scored but his header was off target. There were late scares for the home crowd, when Albion were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position with just four minutes left on the clock. However, the Wednesday wall did it's job in blocking Neil Clement's attempt.

Peter Shreeves felt after the game his side had fought well for their point, but at the same time there was disapointment that maximum points weren't taken. The Owls travel to Carrow Road in two days time to face another Wednesday old boy in Nigel Worthington and his Norwich City side.