Super Sub Flash Gordon saves the day

Wednesday old boy Gordon Watson came off the substitutes bench to grab two late goals for the Owls, as they continued their pre-season winning ways with a 2-0 victory over newly promoted Third Division side Doncaster Rovers. Paul McLaren was sent-off for retaliation in the 71st minute after having been brought down in the box. Watson stepped up to slot the ball home with ease and finally broke the deadlock infront of some 6,500 supporters at a packed Belle Vue ground.

McLaren now may be forced to sit out the start of the season with suspension.

Watson completed his brace with a brilliant 35 yard lob in the 80th minute. That's three goals in 117 minutes of pre-season football for the former Hartlepool United man, at this stage it seems a strong possibility that Chris Turner will do all he can to sign Watson up for the season.

Turner has began the game with a 3-5-2 formation, using Derek Geary and Brian Barry-Murphy as wing-backs, but switched back to 4-4-2 in the second half.

This report from BigOwl:

Nothingy first half as teams went in 0-0 with the Owls playing a 3-5-2 formation and Donny slightly the better organised side. Second half Owls changed to 4-4-2 but again no impression until Owusu and Holt replaced by Watson and Kuqi up front then all hell broke loose.

McLaren fouled in the box and retalliates as an 18 man melee occurs. McLaren sent off with a straight red for what seems to be afters, whilst Watson scores from the pen. Owls down to ten men but took control of the game as Watson seeing the keeper slightly off his line scores a scorcher from 30 yards to make it 2-0.

Owls dont look any worse for the man less. Doncaster surprised by level of Owls support and although ground packed out with a crowd of over 6,500 have to lock over a thousand Wednesday fans outside the ground. McLaren maybe looking at a 3 game ban to start the season! :-(

Geary gets 75 minutes and seems back to his best. Watson adds passion and goalscoring up front. Holt still seems more like a link man and Owusu carries on from his mostly passionless headless chicken act of last season. Tidman looks good. Lee and Smith look fairly solid as a pair but this is only Doncaster who were three divisions below us last season (although only one separates us now)! Not sure about Paul Smith yet but we do have young Evans for the left hand side who did well in the first division last season for us.

Armstrong took over from Gavin Strachan at half time in centre-mid and Haslam came on for Geary at right-back. Jon Shaw, who is a striker, also came on at right midfield as Bromby went off after dispensing with the three centre back format of the first half. 4-4-2 looks the best formation with these players

Half-time: Doncaster 0-0 Owls