Crane grabs vital late point for Owls

Tony Crane grabbed a vital point for the Owls in their Yorkshire Derby clash with Bradford City midweek at the Valley Parade. The defender cum striker stabbed the ball home from close range, after the Bantams' defence failed to clear the ball in a scrappy period of play in the 82nd minute.

Results elsewhere didn't exactly go Wednesday's way, with Grimsby picking up a win and Stoke grabbing an away draw. Wednesday's closest rivals Sheffield United did their city neighbours a big favour in downing Brighton 2-1 at home, but it all still leaves Wednesday's five points adrift of safety.

After the disappointment of losing at home to Ipswich Town, and now only a point at Bradford, the pressure is really on Chris Turner and his men to get a win this weekend at Millwall. Another three points down the drain this weekend and it could be goodbye Division One, hello Division Two.

This report from the BBC Football website:

Tony Crane scrambled home his second goal of the season to earn Sheffield Wednesday a vital point in their battle against relegation at Valley Parade. Crane struck with 10 minutes remaining, just 60 seconds after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men when Jamie Lawrence was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The 20-year-old's goal cancelled out Andy Gray's first-half penalty in a Yorkshire derby full of passion, commitment and entertainment. The Bantams almost made the perfect start in the second minute when striker Ashley Ward struck a right-foot shot against the angle of crossbar and post from 25 yards.

Crane was playing as a striker in Chris Turner's latest attempt to find a goalscorer but it was Ward who was making the most impact and he hit the post with a header following Claus Jorgensen's cross from the left.

Jorgensen then set up the goal after he was brought down by Ashley Westwood in the area after a powerful run down the left. Referee Alan Butler pointed to the penalty spot after a moment's hesitation and Gray stepped up to side-foot the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Simon Donnelly replaced the ineffective Haslam at the break as Turner sought a creative spark from the centre of midfield. It almost paid dividends after 51 minutes when his curling shot from the edge of the area defeated Aidan Davison but struck the base of the left-hand post.

Lawrence was booked for a foul on Donnelly before Bradford threatened on the counter-attack after 66 minutes, Gray seeing a curling shot well-saved by Evans. Lawrence was dismissed for a second bookable offence following a clash with McLaren 10 minutes from time. Less than a minute later Wednesday equalised, as Crane bundled the ball home from close in after McLaren's scuffed shot fell to him.

Half-time: Bradford 1-0 Owls