Mariners stalemate means five points to catch up

"Time running out for Wednesday" by By Michael Staniforth, The Telegraph

The bottom two clubs in Division One came up with the one result that neither wanted, edging them both closer to relegation. With just three matches left, victory was a necessity to put pressure on Stoke and Brighton, the other two teams in the relegation shake-up. But not even a commitment to all-out attack in a cup-tie atmosphere could produce a goal to offer one of the sides a glimmer of hope.

For Sheffield Wednesday the prospect of Second Division football next season must seem particularly galling, having attracted a crowd of 26,000 to Hillsborough for this match. But that looks increasingly like the reality, even though they extended their unbeaten run to four games. Not surprisingly, there was little good football on show and disconsolate home fans filed away knowing that their big chance had gone; for them, tomorrow's game at Brighton just has to be won.

Wednesday gave a start to Michael Reddy, who scored the last-minute winner against Portsmouth the previous week. Richard Evans also moved up from the substitutes' bench, with Ashley Westwood unavailable because of hamstring trouble.

On the back of a 4-1 reverse against Crystal Palace, Grimsby recalled Richard Hughes and George Santos, the former Sheffield United defender. Michael Keane and Tony Gallimore had recovered from the illness which swept through the club. Grimsby have lost form at just the wrong time; after two wins and two draws they lost three in a row to drop below Wednesday and prop up the table.

But goalkeeper Danny Coyne was at his best yesterday saving after just four minutes from Shefki Kuqi, who had been sent clear by Lloyd Owusu. Then Reddy found the side netting from an Evans corner. Wednesday dominated the first 20 minutes, but then had goalkeeper Kevin Pressman to thank for keeping them level. His save from Gallimore's free-kick was somewhat inadvertent and unorthodox, but his tip over the bar from Chris Bolder's 30-yard drive was of the highest class.

This was frantic stuff, with both sides aware that a draw would not help their survival chances. The confidence Wednesday had built up from their three-match unbeaten run did not seem to be translating into taking responsibility. Paul McLaren got a solid header to Evans's corner but that was blocked, then Brian Barry-Murphy headed over. wever, Grimsby looked more dangerous on the break and Michael Boulding nearly got round Dean Smith as the first half came to a close.

At least both sets of supporters could find a common cause in delighting at the news that Brighton were losing at Leicester. The second half was only two minutes old when controversy erupted. A moment of sloppiness by Danny Maddix let in Boulding, who was then brought down by Dean Smith. It looked as though Boulding had been through on goal, but Smith escaped with only a yellow card. To make matters worse, Stuart Campbell squandered the free-kick.

The game had all the hallmarks of a cup-tie, with both sides committed to outright attack knowing that only a win would suffice. Kuqi nearly deceived Coyne at one end; Bolder unable to finish off a storming run at the other. Wednesday manager Chris Turner gambled everything with 20 minutes to go as he made a triple substitution, introducing Leon Knight, Steven Haslam and Grant Holt. But it was Grimsby who almost snatched the lead with a flying header from Hughes which skimmed the bar.

Wednesday launched a concerted assault on the visitors' defence for the final 10 minutes and Haslam headed over. But neither side had looked particularly likely to score all afternoon and there was to be no late goal drama.

Half-time: Owls 0-0 Grimsby