Wednesday fail to punish troubled Dons

Despite Wimbledon's club problems, both on and off the field, a tired looking Wednesday outfit failed to come away from Selhurst Park with more than just a point. Some would say that perhaps the Owls didn't even deserve that point. The midweek success over Sunderland in the Worthington League Cup, a match which went into extra-time, seemed to have taken its toll on many an Owls player. At the end of the end it was Wimbledon, winless in their five previous games to this one, who would've been kicking themselves for having not sealed the win and three precious league points.

There was still no Ian Hendon available, and so Shreeves gave Ashley Westwood his first start of the season. Once again Haslam and Bromby were re-shuffled to the right and left back positions respectively. With no Gerald Sibon still that also meant Efan Ekoku and Tommy Johnson kept their places upfront.

Disgruntled Dons fans let their voice be heard throughout the match, which Peter Shreeves claimed not only distracted the home side but the visitors as well. Wimbledon boss Terry Burton has publicly announced that he is considering his position as manager at the club, whilst fans are pushing to out current chairman Charles Koppel.

The first half saw chances go to both sides but it was Wednesda who would make the initial breakthrough before the break. As early as the 7th minute Kevin Pressman was put under pressure as Kevin Cooper's left foot shot was saved down low by the veteran keeper.

Midway through the opening half Alan Quinn was unlucky not to have scored his first of the season. He broke through the Dons defence and rounded Wimbledon keeper Kelvin Davis, but his toe-poked shot clipped the post. Efan Ekoku's lanky leg wasn't long enough to reach the rebound.

In the 34th minute Wednesday really did have Pressman to thank as he pulled off a superb double save to keep the scores level. Andy Roberts powered a header at goal from the edge of the penalty box which the former England 'B' international was equal to, and then somehow stopped David Connolly from scoring the close range rebound.

At the other end Davis kept out efforts from Alan Quinn, and then from skipper Trond-Egil Soltvedt. From the resulting corner the Owls took the lead. With just six minutes before the break Tommy Johnson glanced in a close range header for his first goal for the club. Minutes later he nearly grabbed a second, but his left-foot shot flew past the wrong side of the post.

Half-time: Wimbledon 0-1 Owls

Wimbledon came out of the changing rooms for the second half all guns blazing. Five minutes into the second half Pressman was having to pull off more heroics. The Owls shot stopper leaped to deny a Roberts effort, and only a minute later denied the midfielder from what would have been a 25 yard thunderbolt.

In the 57th minute Pressman could do nothing to deny Wimbledon their equaliser. Cooper broke down the left flank and although Pressman did well to get something to his cross, he couldn't stop Michael Hughes from blasting the ball into the back of the net from 10 yards out. Hughes nearly returned the favour when he put Kevin Cooper through on goal, but his shot wasn't hit cleanly and Pressman was once again able to deny the Dons a goal.

Efan Ekoku nearly grabbed Wednesday a winning goal when his 25 yard free-kick was just inches wide of the goal. The Dons piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes, as Peter Shreeves was forced to resort to defensive tactics to ensure his team left with something from the game. Wednesday did manage to keep Wimbledon at bay, and deny the London side all three points.

After the game Shreeves said he felt that the midweek game seemed to have taken it's toll on some players, but at the end of the day was pleased to have taken a point from what was a poor Wednesday performance.

"It was our third game in a week, and after the two-hour match against Sunderland the team looked physically tired. Even the boys who are a fit as licks seemed to be struggling in the middle of the park, so I will have to think again about the preparation work we do for Monday’s game."

"This was a good point for us in view of the level of our performance. We played better in losing to Norwich and Birmingham, so I have to be satisfied with a draw."

"I was especially pleased for Tommy Johnson to get his first goal for the club, and I thought Kevin Pressman was outstanding in the goal, and kept us in the game when things were going against us. Alan Quinn was our only outfield player to look as though he had his usual energy."