Bantams punish poor finishing by Owls

Paul Sturrock's unbeaten run in the league as Wednesday manager came to an end yesterday when Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, the most in-form side in League One at the moment, punished Wednesday's lack of killer instict in front of goal with three second half goals.

The Owls had enjoyed the majority of play in the first half but it was the classic story of not finishing chances when they presented themselves, Steven MacLean was guilty of this on a few occasions. The Bantams scored twice inside three minutes to leave the Owls with a mountain to climb.

In the 59th minute half-time substitute Michael Symes fired a deflected shot off Richard Wood that beat stand-in keeper Ola Tidman. Moments later it was 2-0. Bradford forward Dean Windass grabbed his 9th goal of the season with a well struck chip shot that looped over Tidman's head.

With a little under twenty minutes left the Owls found themselves back in with a shout. An Owls corner was flicked on and defender Lee Bullen scored his second successive goal, his 3rd of the campaign, with a sweeping effort.

The result was sealed though with a third Bantams goal in the 78th minute. Ben Muirhead's cross was turned in close-range by Symes as he grabbed his second of the game.

It was Wednesday's third week inside seven days and no doubt with tired legs setting in Sturrock must rally his troops for another two games this week, Swindon away in midweek and then another local derby clash next Saturday when Chesterfield Town are the visitors to Hillsborough.

Half-time: Bradford 0-0 Owls

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"It's very disappointing but strangely we were quite good today. We played very, very well, looked solid as a unit and had several half-chances. But we didn't take them and it cost us dear."

"Anybody watching the game would have seen we were very positive in our approach in the first half and started the second half in the same vein, with a couple more half-chances. He (MacLean) could have had a double hat-trick today but he's trying to be too precise with them and not hitting the ball early enough. He's normally a decent finisher but he's trying to make too certain of things and we just can't afford that."

"Why, I don't know, but my back four played ten yards deeper for a 20-minute spell and it cost us dear, I don't think anybody does it intentionally but they made the game long and our players aren't suited to that. The two goals came from that."

Richard Wood's post match comments:
"We felt that we outplayed them at times. We played very well in the first half, one of the best halves we've played, but got nothing from it. At half-time we said we needed to carry on and hopefully get a goal. We'd been having chances but weren't taking them."

"It was a different story in the second half, they got a lucky goal and followed on from there. It (the first goal) deflected off me. I was covering and thought I did well to make the challenge, it is one of those things that happens in football - I was gutted to see it go in."

AnzOwls verdict: Not a surprising result. Bradford are in fine form, and the Owls are looking depleted at the moment.