Front duo on target again for Owls

Wednesday recorded their first league double of the season as front pairing of Mark Robins and Adam Proudlock did the business again for the Owls with a goal each to help seal a 2-0 win over Barry Fry's Peterborough United side. It was the third goal in two games for Robins and Proudlock, whose goals ensured Chris Turner was able to celebrate only their third league home win of the season.

The Owls will be looking to carry forward their momentum with another win this Friday over bottom club Wycombe Wanderers, a game which is going to be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK.

This Match Report from BigOwl:

Mark Wilson on loan from Middlesborough in for the suspended GNN was the only change from the midweek win over scunny. After the high spirits and good football in the midweek match we were always expecting an anticlimax and more or less thats what the first half brought us. Peterborough looked to hit us on the break and threw a lot of men behind the ball. The first period was punctuated by a lot of niggling fouls especially by their defenders and most of it missed by the officials.

Wilson was having a steady debut and threaded one quality pass through to Robins who was judged to be marginally offside and the move was applauded by the crowd. Little attacking force was in evidence by either side as the quality of the passing often matched the quality of the muddy pitch. Quinn did manage a half volley which looked to be heading wide but hit a defender and could easily have gone in. Geary sneaked in at the back post and got on the end of a Smith cross but only managed to lift the ball over the bar.

Although the Owls rarely looked in any trouble neither side seemed capable of breaking the deadlock and there were a few boos as the teams trudged off at half time.

Half-time: Owls 0-0 Peterborough

It was Peterborough who actually managed the real first shot in anger (or certainly the first effort to need a save) but Lucas was equal to it going down low to smother the ball. We were starting to play some better football and when Smith made a hopeful pass forward it was unexpectedly missed by both Posh centre backs as they left it to each other and Robins was left in the clear to smack the ball past the keeper with his left foot. All of a sudden we started to attack with more threat.

As against scunny we were lifted by the goal and the crowd noise level raised as the Owls stated to play better football. Although not expending a huge amount of energy Wilson was playing very well in a defensive holding role. His range of passing was very much in evidence and he did manage one forward run and shot which just went past the outside of the Peterborough post. Haslam again read the game very well and made just one mistake in the game.

Peterborough however did not lay down and die and brought a couple of competent saves from Lucas, Peterborough defender Arber missing one chance to equalise as he put a free header straight at the Owls keeper. The tide finally went out for the posh as firstly they lost a centre back who was sent off for pulling Proudlock back as he went past his man who was adjudged to be last defender.

Then in the last minute Geary whacked the ball upfield and Proudlock ran on to shoot the ball through the keepers legs to keep the former Wolves striker as the clubs top scorer with 8 for the season (one ahead of Robins with 7 from 9 games)! Not the best game Ive seen at S6 this season, we have played far better and lost however the points were more important and a home win in the league is very very welcome :-)

Team:-
Lucas 7/10 Did what was needed again
Geary 6/10 No complaints, quieter than tuesday evening
D. Smith 7/10 Solid
Haslam 8/10 His reading of the ball and overall defending stand him out yet again
BBM 7/10 Thought he actually played better today than midweek
P. Smith 6/10 Has again forgotten how to go past a player
Armstrong 6/10 Busy but not spectacular
Wilson 7/10 Decent debut for a man with no match fitness, tired near the end
Quinn 7/10 Worth the money for his duel with ex piggy curtis woodhouse
Proudlock 7/10 Kept going and deserved his goal
Robins 7/10 Seven goals up now, took his well today

Sub
Cooke - Nice to see Terry back on the pitch

MOM again Im going for Haslam. Some steady performances in a dour game which was brightened by 2 very good strikers goals. In his interview on Radio Sheffield CT announced that Kim Olsen has been training with the team for 3 days and that the Owls were hoping to tie him up on an 18 month deal early next week!

Chris Turner's most match comments:
"I thought we thoroughly deserved to win. We passed the ball round well at times and could have gone in at half-time a couple of goals in front. He's (Robins) someone who'll score goals if you give him chances and that's why we brought him here."

AnzOwls' verdict: Two wins...in a row! Could this be the turning point we've been hoping for?