Gills inflict another Owls defeat

Football can be a cruel game. Wednesday's supporters and players will tell you that. The Owls are currently in one of their worst runs of form of recent times. They're rooted to the bottom of Division One, having won only twice all season, and optimism of survival seems to lessen as each week passes.

The Owls put in a match winning performance against Gillingham this week, certainly deserved of all three league points. The Owls hit the woodwork four times throughout the game. The Gills had about three shots on goal, two of them ended in the back of the net.

Chris Turner threw the new three boys into the fold, despite none of them having even trained with the Owls squad before running onto the field. Defender Garry Monk and winger Allan Johnston made their full Wednesday's debuts, whilst Wolves striker Adam Proudlock came on towards the end. Perhaps a little too late. By the time he replaced Gerald Sibon in the 78th minute the Owls were already two down, two goals from two lazy pieces of defending from the Owls backline.

Turner knows next week's game is a massive one. Fellow strugglers Grimsby Town away. It could make or break Wednesday's season.

This report from the TeamTalk website:

Gillingham recorded their first-ever win at Hillsborough as they sent struggling Sheffield Wednesday crashing to a 2-0 defeat. Goals from Rod Wallace and Paul Smith gave Andy Hessenthaler's men the victory, but Wednesday had only themselves to blame after dominating for long spells and missing a whole host of chances.

Wednesday boss Chris Turner gave new loan signings Garry Monk and Allan Johnston their debuts but the new-boys hardly had time to meet their team-mates when Gillingham took the lead. Veteran Wallace popped up at the far post to meet a Marlon King cross and steer the ball home after just five minutes. Wednesday had their best chance after 20 minutes when Tony Crane met a Matthew Hamshaw corner at the far post but his powerful header was parried for a corner by Jason Brown.

Gerald Sibon and Kuqi then both hit the woodwork before Sibon headed over the crossbar from close range. Wednesday's inability to turn chances into goals continued after the restart and Kuqi somehow managed to head wide from the centre of the penalty area. Gillingham hardly had a look in but after 74 minutes a rare break saw a good cross by Paul Shaw headed goalwards by King. Pressman kept the ball out but it rebounded to Paul Smith who knocked the ball home from close range.

Striker Adam Proudlock went on for Sibon but he could not make any impact and Wednesday ended the game in familiar fashion, Johnston and McClaren both shooting wide.

Half-time: Owls 0-1 Gillingham