Kuqi heroics saves Brighton blushes

Shefki Kuqi ended his personal goal drought with one of the most important goals he's likely to score all season. The Owls were 30 seconds away from what would have been a disastrous 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Instead, the Finn kept his cool when rounding the keeper. He took the ball onto his favourite right-foot, and slammed the ball past two Brighton defenders on the goal line. The draw will have hardly inspired Owls fans into thinking they will avoid relegation this season, but that point must've seemed more like two lost for the visitors.

There are 24 games to go in the season and Owls boss Chris Turner is not promising he can turn it around. Wednesday are presently at the lowest we've seen them in a long time. The Owls are only three points outside of the relegation zone. But we haven't seen a Wednesday win since mid-October now.

Turner has been quick to point out that Wednesday's current plight cannot be fixed overnight. He has told fans he has "no magic wand" and he predicts it could take as long as two years to turn the club around.

This report from the BBC Football website:

Substitute Shefki Kuqi's last-gasp strike kept Sheffield Wednesday off the foot of the table following a basement battle at Hillsborough. Gary Hart's 20th-minute header had looked set to condemn the Owls to another embarrassing defeat and earn Brighton only their fourth win of the season. But in the 90th minute, Finnish striker Kuqi broke free in the box to slip the ball beyond Michels Kuipers.

It was rough justice on Steve Coppell's side, who appeared to be holding on comfortably until Kuqi's late intervention ensured they stay bottom. The first-half pace was frenetic but there were few openings until Hart delivered his early blow for Coppell's side in the 20th minute.

The visitors swept forward with purpose and when Steve Sidwell fired in a low cross the Brighton number nine stooped to head the south coast side into a deserved lead. Wednesday pressed in the second-half and on the hour, Lloyd Owusu's goalbound effort from 20 yards was intercepted by Danny Cullip.

By then Turner had seen enough and he threw on Gerald Sibon and Kuqi for Owusu and Knight. Wednesday lifted themselves again in a bid to get on terms, Geary sending over four dangerous crosses in quick succession that were all scrambled clear. Kuipers was booked for time wasting with 11 minutes left, but although Craig Armstrong volleyed wide Wednesday rarely worked a clear opening on goal. But right at the death Kuqi seized his chance, keeping a level head to steer the ball beyond Kuipers when finding himself with just enough time and space in the box.

Half-time: Owls 0-1 Brighton