Boxing Day victory for Wednesday

The Owls continued their successful Christmas campaign with their second successive win, this time a nail biting 3-2 home win over Paul Merson's Walsall. In what was a topsy-turvy game Wednesday look set for victory when Steven MacLean tucked away a 72nd minute penalty. Earlier on-loan Kenwyne Jones has given Wednesday a 28th minute lead but that goal was cancelled out by an equalise four minutes from the break by Marvin Robinson.

An own goal by Paul McShane in the 64th minute had restored Wednesday's lead before MacLean calmly converted his fifth goal in three games. But Wednesday's shaky home form looked set to strike again when McShane, a villain for Walsall earlier in the game, put the Saddlers back in the game with ten minutes left.

The Owls held on for victory and three more important points in their promotion push.

Half-time: Owls 1-1 Walsall

This report from BigOwl:

Its Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid. Except when the Owls are defending a lead. However this time we managed to hold on but it wasn't a pretty sight. We still have the problem of defenders trying to play the ball out rather than hitting row Z. We were treated however to some timely Xmas fare by way of a spectacular Kenwye Jones volley and (no apology for including this statement) the sight of Paul Merson lighting up a football pitch in what is overall a dire division.

I'm sorry if you don't agree but some of his touches were sublime and what's more you could see the annoyance on his face when the occasional pass went astray. He still has the footballing brain, the skill and the passion (if not the legs)!

Anyay back to more things blue and white related. First half was a bit dour with little on show from either side. Walsall edged it kicking towards Leppings Lane and had a couple of very good chances. One was hacked off the line and Lucas made one fantastic save, tipping over as he fell backwards from a Robinson blockbuster volley.

Overall Robinson was the main threat as his pace was unsettling. Several times Lucas and his defence seemed to be on different planets or at least speaking differing languages as no-one knew who was going to kick the ball clear. Lucas had to slide tackle the attacker after Bullen let the ball through on one accasion.

O'Brien had an early shot over the bar and the Owls did manage a couple of other shots to no avail. Jones seemed to be upended in the box after a mazy rum but the ref (not for the only time) refused the appeals and waved play on. The game was end to end without any huge scares but it burst into life when out of the blue the ball came in the air towards Jones who was about 20 yards out on the outside of the box towards the right hand touchline.

He looked up, angled his foot and hit the sweetest volley with the outside of his boot and it literally curled round the keeper who had no chance to give the Owls the lead. The festive crowd of nearly 27,000 erupted and Jones did a little dance followed by a somersault and a superb backflip.

Walsall responded and equalised just before half time when Bullen raced forward with the ball only to be dispossessed and hurt himself. Unable to come back we were a defender short and as the cross came in from the left Robinson took the merest of touches to head the ball past Lucas for a very good goal. The biggest downside of the first half was the refereeing as we could have had four or five penalties. The second half was far better entertainment than the first with both sides attacking and both sides looking like scoring.

It was the Owls who retook the lead in Wimbledon type fashion when Bullen smacked the ball into the box and after an almighty scramble Hamshaw was credited with poking the ball over the line but from where we were sat it was more likely an own goal. However who scores does not matter as the Owls were now in the ascendency and Bullen should have increased the lead soon after as he headed over the bar from all of a yard (though I seem to remember the flag had been raised anyway).

We surged forward and MacLean was bundled over in the box for a penalty. Jones grabbed the ball but was talked out of it as our erstwhile Scot smacked the ball into the keepers left hand side of the net.

At 3-1 there looked to be no way back for Walsall. However this is Hillsborough not Belle Vue and as expected we started to quiver. Walsall won a series of corners and again bad defending allowed the Walsall full back to nod home and make the final ten minutes nail biting. We started to take the ball to the corner flag, Brunt came on for Hamshaw and Jones looked dead in the water. Lee made a fantastic saving header as once again Robinson looked to get first to the ball in our box and only a corner was lost.

The ref finally blew the whistle much to our relief and we had another rare home victory.

Lucas - 6/10 two great saves but no communication
Bullen - 6/10 brilliant and awful in equal measures
Lee - 7/10 solid if a little slow against pacy forwards
Wood - 7/10 did little wrong but not quite as good as Paddy
Heckingbottom - 6/10 still thinks he can play us out of trouble. Poor heading for a defender
Hamshaw - 7/10 wrong wing for Matty but he was up and down and at times was our best defender
O'Brien - 6/10 put a few passes astray but kept at it in a defensive holding role
Whelan - 7/10 quietly got on with the game, contributed well
JP - 7/10 quieter game for the boy but still one of the best
MacLean 8/10 - worked tirelessly all the game. Deserved his goal
Jones - 7/10 tried too hard at times, tired with 15 to go but THAT GOAL.

Sub
Brunt

Ref - 5/10 missed some obvious pens

Paul Sturrock's post match comments: