Owls held to draw at home

This match report from BigOwl:

The news that Graeme Lee is out for 4 to 6 weeks came as a huge blow and left Smith and Haslam as the clubs only senior centre backs fit. Paul Smith passed a late test although he too is also suffering and earlier was thought to also have to be out for the same length as Lee. BBM played as left side centre back in a 3-5-2 formation with Geary and Paul Smith wide of Quinn, GNN and Mustoe in centre midfield. Robins partnered Burchill up front.

This was all the way the sort of game you would be happy to watch as both sides played some very entertaining football with little sign of ball lumping and much one touch passing on the deck in evidence. GNN in particular was causing havoc in the Swindon half and he probably had the best half I have seen him since he joined the Owls. Wednesday certainly had the better of the half and managed to limit Swindon to one chance.

The ref had to go off injured early on and was replaced by one of his two portly linesmen. The call went out over the tannoy for any referees to act as 4th official (who had now moved to linesman) and Uriah Rennie who was at the game was seen craftily heading towards the toilets to avoid being asked. The crowd clapped both sides off at half time.

Half-time: Owls 0-0 Swindon

The second half started at pace and again both sides looked up for it but it was Swindon who got the breakthrough as one of their players was allowed to run through midfield unchallenged and played a neat one-two before Tommy Mooney took the ball off his toes and at the top edge of the Owls box curled a fabulous shot into the far corner giving Lucas no chance 0 - 1.

The Owls poured forward and after some great build up play Robins beat the defender and lobbed the keeper from outside the box. The keeper backpeddled and just as the ball was dropping in at the far post he somehow managed to get a fist to it and punched the ball away.

Still the Owls attacked and the ball came in again and fell to the feet of Robins whose shot was blocked on the line as Swindon barely escaped. Burchill went off as Proudlock came back from his injury layoff as the Owls again pressed for an equaliser.

In the 70th minute a blatent penalty was waved away by the stand in ref as Smith was clearly being held in a bear-hug by two defenders. However justice prevailed as the ball went out to midfield and Geary went on a run down the wing, beat his man and delivered a class ball to the near post where Robins had made his run and glanced the perfect header past the keeper 1 - 1.

Both sides had chances as time ticked away. Robins and Proudlock seemed to get in each others way and both seemed to connect with a crossed ball in and the ball spun away for a goalkick. At the other end Lucas made several good saves and Swindon might just have stolen the points in the last five minutes but the goalbound shot was miraculously thumped up over the crossbar as it was about to cross the line in a spectacular clearance by Haslam. Even Mooney came over and patted him on the head for fantastic defending.

The game ended as usual in S6 as a draw only this time I didnt come away feeling disappointed. We may have to write off this season due to the worst injury crisis of all living memory but those who were fit today produced a cracking game in front of just under 23000 fans.

Team:-

Lucas - 8/10: Far better keeper than Pressman, Tidman or Stringer
Smith - 7/10: The only 'lumper' left in the team
Haslam - 9/10: One mistake in the match and some excellent defending
BBM - 7/10: Made the odd mistake but better than of late
P. Smith - 7/10: Again took players on and looked decent at times
Quinn - 6/10: Lots of running but not in sync with midfield at times
Mustoe - 6/10: Steady but there were holes in midfield at times
GNN - 8/10: Would have been 9 just on the first half
Geary - 8/10: Did himself proud today
Burchill - 7/10: Good on the floor, caused a lot of problems
Robins - 7/10: Few chances but could have ended up with two goals

Sub:-
Proudlock - 6/10: Made one or two good runs

Man of the Match: Haslam.

AnzOwls Verdict: Morale is on the up. We just need to finish our chances and win some games.