Stoke leave it late, Owls fall further behind

The Owls slipped further behind the pack after defeat in the last minute at Britannia Stadium over fellow strugglers Stoke City. Icelandic defender Brynjar Gunnarsson scored in the 90th minute to steal a clinical 3-2 victory for the Potters. Results elsewhere means the Owls are now seven points away from safety.

Owls manager Chris Turner was celebrating his first win as manager on Boxing Day when Wednesday upset promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Hillsborough. But the celebrations were well and truly only momentarily as Stoke ended their awful 17 match run without a win, whilst the Owls are still in search of their first win on their travels this season.

As if things couldn't be worse, it was announced after the game by Turner that winger Matthew Hamshaw has suffered cruciate ligament damage and will sit out the rest of the season. The Sheffield born youngster is also a doubt for the start of the 2003/04 season. In which division the Owls will kick off that season is yet to be seen.

This report from the BBC Football website:

Stoke earned a first league win in 17 matches thanks to a last minute winner from Brynjar Gunnarsson against Sheffield Wednesday. The side traded goals before Gunnarsson netted the winner in this relegation battle. Stoke burst out of the blocks in pursuit of their first League win since a 2-1 success over Ipswich on 9 September. Peter Hoekstra and Chris Iwelumo went close for Stoke and it was no surprise when the home side took the lead. Gudjonsson crossed to the far post, Gunnarsson nodded the ball down and Iwelumo reacted quickest to head the ball beyond keeper Chris Stringer.

But Wednesday - suitably perked following their first win under Turner last week - soon hit back. On-loan winger Allen Johnston whipped in another ball from the left and Dutchman Gerald Sibon slammed the ball home right-footed from close in. Johnston, revelling in his free role since arriving on loan from Middlesbrough, then brought the best out of Stoke keeper Steve Banks, who tipped his dipping 35-yarder over the bar. Iwelumo then went close for Stoke on two occasions straight after the restart before making up for several glaring misses.

Hoekstra showed some wizardry out wide before playing in a dangerous cross and the big front man stabbed the ball home after Chris Greenacre had helped it on. Turner sent on Morrison for the injured Sibon soon after, but the Owls were not behind for long.

Johnston headed Geary's free-kick into Proudlock's path and the on-loan Wolves striker volleyed home to make it 2-2. Proudlock had another long-range effort blocked by James O'Connor and Greenacre's 25-yard curler for the home side forced Stringer into a sharp save as both sides went looking for the winner.

Stringer denied Greenacre again from the edge of the area, Gunnarsson blazed wide and the Wednesday keeper saved his best until last, denying Hoekstra from close range. But Wednesday were left crestfallen when Gunnarsson broke their resistance with the late winner.

Half-time: Stoke 1-1 Owls