Owls claw back a point from struggling Seagulls

Wednesday could claim only a draw from struggling relegation outfit Torquay United at Hillsborough, as goals from skipper Lee Bullen and debutant Graham Barrett salvaged a point for the Owls when, at 2-0 down shortly after the break, it looked as though the Seagulls would leave Sheffield with all three points.

Manager Paul Sturrock was yet again forced to make changes to his side. Midfielders Chris Brunt (Northern Ireland) and Glenn Whelan (Republic of Ireland Under-21s) were both absent on international duty, which forced Sturrock into re-calling Matthew Hamshaw back into the side to play on the left and Steve Adams into the middle. New signings Graham Barrett and goalkeeper Paul Gallagher replaced James Quinn and Chris Adamson respectively.

The game started lively as both sides looked for an opening. On loan Norwich City keeper Gallagher had to be on his toes to deny efforts from Darren Garner and Aaron Brown, whilst at the other end another loanee in Barrett saw his powerful header saved, and defender Richard Wood also had an effort saved by Torquay keeper Andy Marriott.

It was the away side that took the lead in the 25th minute though. Torquay man Tony Berdeau swung in a dangerous right hand cross that beat both Bullen and Wood but not striker Adebayo Akinfenka who volleyed the ball in from five yards.

Akinfenka came close to doubling his tally for the afternoon seven minutes later, but his shot flashed wide.

Half-time: Owls 0-1 Torquay

The Owls have struggled shortly after the break in recent games, conceding goals within the first three minutes of the second half against Colchester United last weekend and Blackpool the week before, and Paul Sturrock's men were caught napping again today.

Just three minutes into the second period, after Sturrock would have no doubt reminded his players how important three points was today, Torquay were two in front and it couldn't have been easier.

A free-kick from the right hand side swung dangerously to the back post where Steve Woods had the simplest of headers from only a few yards out, after appearing to have escaped the lazy marking efforts of Lee Peacock. Owls keeper Gallagher would have done well to even get a hand to it.

At 2-0 down things weren't looking good for the home side, but they were thrown a lifeline by their captain Lee Bullen. The Scot grabbed his 7th goal of the season, to make him joint second top scorer for the season, after chesting down Hamshaw's chip into the box he finished clinically into the top right corner with a smashing volley.

Five minutes later Wednesday were level. Paul Heckingbottom's corner was headed down by Wood as Barrett managed to flick the ball home as it bounced over him to mark his Wednesday debut with a goal.

The Owls were left with half an hour to find a winner and Peacock was nearly the man to do it, but his shot was a few yards too high. Sturrock threw on in-form youngster Drew Talbot and James Quinn in the final 15 minutes. Quinn, absent from Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifyer with England at Old Trafford through suspension, came the closest to finding a winner for Wednesday when his shot was cleared off the line by Russell in the final few minutes of the game.

With all the other teams at the top also dropping points it was a frustrating result for the Owls, but on a more positive side the Owls are still looking good to make a play-off place with just seven games left in the season.

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"It was a massive three points. I don't really like the Sunday games and playing catch-up on the teams who played a day before. It was a fantastic result that puts us into third place and now we can start aiming at the two above us to see if we can peg them back."

"It was perfect timing, we were a bit at sixes and sevens in the first half. They had one or two decent chances and Dave made a couple of good saves. Maybe it knocked the stuffing out of them. I felt we were pretty comfortable in the second half and I was delighted for Drew Talbot to get his first goal at Hillsborough."

AnzOwls verdict:
A disappointing result but with injuries to key players (Lucas, Lee, MacLean) and players absent through international duty (Brunt & Whelan) Sturrock was forced to make multiple changes to his side. Good debuts from Graham Barrett, with his second half equaliser, and keeper Paul Gallagher who, to be fair, had no chance with either of Torquay's goals.