Unhappy homecoming for Turner

This report from the official site:

Chris Turner's homecoming didn't go according to plan as table topping Portsmouth produced a slick performance to earn a 3-1 victory in the ex-Wednesday keeper's first home game as manager, despite Leon Knight poaching an equaliser for Wednesday midway through the first half.

Svetoslav Todorov claimed a brace, his first coming in the visitors first attack ten minutes in and the second four minutes after the restart, before Gary O'Neil cemented the points just after the hour from close range.

Turner made three changes to the side which started at Gillingham last week. The goal hero from that game at the Priestfield, Knight, started in place of the suspended Shefki Kuqi - serving a one match ban after being sent off at Norwich. Jon Beswetherick came at left wing back in for his first start since August and Alan Quinn also returned with Ian Hendon and groin strain victim Trond Soltvedt missing out - Kevin Pressman captained the team in the Norwegian's absence.

The Owls posed an early threat with Craig Armstrong's sweeping ball forcing Shaka Hislop to rush out of his penalty area to punt clear of the onrushing Lloyd Owusu. Five minutes in, Hislop had to palm away a low shot by Quinn after the Irishman burst into the area, with Arjen De Zeeuw on hand to put the ball into touch with Knight lurking menacingly.

Quinn again caused a headache for Pompey ten minutes in as his flighted free kick was headed a foot too high by Tony Crane. Seconds later, SWFC were caught out on the counter attack as the league leaders forged ahead with their first attack of the game. Vincent Pericard found Matthew Taylor in space on the left and, after Pressman beat the wing back's cross shot was beaten into the air and Beswetherick stretched to nod off the line, the ball dropped for Todorov to drive low and hard into the right corner from 10 yards.

Gerald Sibon bent a free kick just past the near post as Wednesday sought a swift riposte, while Todorov's attempted chip cleared Pressman's crossbar after SWFC had lost possession in their own half.

The sight of PFC's gloved-up creative lynchpin Paul Merson limping off on 24 minutes with what seemed to be an ankle injury was a boost for the hosts and they levelled within two minutes. Owusu nodded Pressman's long punt into the path of Knight and the diminutive forward pounced for his second goal in as many games and his first at Hillsborough, lofting over Hislop as the keeper went to ground.

Pressman was called upon to keep the scores level after Merson's replacement O'Neil had evaded the Owls defence to threaten a quickfire response to the home equaliser and dangerman Todorov headed over from O'Neil's clipped centre. Owusu seized on a good advantage from referee Paul Danson to surge towards the Kop goal after shrugging off a foul and his low cross forced a corner.

Half-time: Owls 1-1 Portsmouth

SWFC survived two real scares caused by Todorov either side of half time before the Bulgarian eventually doubled his and Portsmouth's tally on 49 minutes. The former West Ham man's header came back off the bar and Taylor hooked the loose ball over the gaping goal from just two yards out with the last kick of the first period, while, just after the interval, Steven Haslam denied him with a goalline clearance after Pressman had dropped Taylor's cross.

However, there was no such luck a minute later, as O'Neil won possession and Pericard put Todorov in to hold off Leigh Bromby and slot calmly past Pressman at the near post. With Wednesday still rocking from conceding a second, the South Coast outfit capitalised to further their lead on 63 minutes.

O'Neil capped a highly impressive display since replacing Merson by converting from close range after Todorov's centre from the right had the Owls defence at sixes and sevens. That third goal prompted Turner to make a double switch in order to salvage something from the match, with Simon Donnelly and Matt Hamshaw - both of whom have been scoring substitutes at Hillsborough this season - entering the fray.

Sibon's free kick was deflected wide and Bromby glanced Hamshaw's corner right across the face of goal as Wednesday chased a route back into the contest. They almost got their reward when Hamshaw's delivery found Knight in the box but the England Under-21 star failed to control and time ran out for the Owls.