Point taken, but lessons to be learnt

The Owls temporarily moved off the bottom of the table thanks to a well earned point at Kenilworth Road, mainly thanks to some outstanding goalkeeping by David Lucas. It was another terrible start for Wednesday though as, for the fourth time this season and the second time in consecutive games, they conceded a goal within the first ten minutes. It goes without saying that in this division you just can't afford to be chasing games so early on.

As expected full-backs Frankie Simek and John Hills were drafted back into the side following the midweek League Cup exit at the hands of West Ham, whilst Graeme Lee was a late replacement for the ill Graham Coughlan. Jon-Paul McGovern had to settle for a place on the bench after having made his recovery in that midweek match, with Chris Eagles replacing him on the right wing. Burton O'Brien came in for Craig Rocastle whilst upfront Lee Peacock was handed his first team place back in place of the young Barry Corr.

High flying Luton Town took the lead in the 2nd minute when Steve Howard, a former Wednesday target, beat Lee to the ball and headed into the roof of the net from close range from a quickly taken Kevin Nicolls free-kick. After having conceded a goal after 75 seconds in their last game Paul Sturrock would have been fuming from the sideline.

But his side were level 12 minutes later and it was Graeme Lee who made amends with a freakish looping header from a Chris Brunt corner. Brunt's left-footed outswinging corner was flicked on by a Luton player and fell straight onto the head of the re-called centre-back who from 12 yards out saw his header find a gap between goalkeeper and the man on the line.

It was to be a busy evening for David Lucas with a string of first half saves, the first coming from an angled shot by Warren Feeney after some good work exposing the Owls defence down the left hand side. In the 38th minute Lucas made the save of the half when he clawed Steve Robinson's goal bound header wide. It was yet another aerial attack that the Owls defence could just not handle.

Chris Brunt threatened at the other end as the Northern Ireland international tested former Owls goalkeeper Marlon Beresford with a drilled low left foot shot at the near post. Just before half-time Beresford was on hand to deny Brunt for a second time, this time from a 30 yard free-kick smashed straight at the Luton keeper. The rebound fell to striker David Graham who, unmarked from 12 yards out, poked an awful right foot shot wide of the mark.

Half-time: Luton 1-1 Owls

The pulsating end to end action continued in the second period. Ten minutes into the half Chris Brunt was again threatening to score his first of the season with a free-kick on the edge of the box. Brunt was again on target with another thunderous strike, but again Beresford denied.

Just after the hour mark it was yet again Brunt that the Owls turned to to create an opening. His Waddle-esque chip like through ball from half-way was chested down well by Peacock but the Owls forward shot badly wide with a hint of a save from the onrushing Beresford.

Moments later Peacock made up for his miss when his flick on allowed David Graham to get behind the Hatters defence. The Scot, who was celebrating the end to his goal drought after scoring against the Hammers in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, nodded the ball down and whilst holding off his marker smashed a half volley low into the net. It signalled a return to form for the €350k signing who has struggled to find the back of the net since moving to Hillsborough.

Celebrations were cut short though when the Owls defence allowed Luton back into the match just two minutes after taking the lead. The frustration of conceding so quickly after having scored at the other end were heightened by the fact that it was yet again that man Steve Howard who scored it and yet again Kevin Nicolls the provider. This time the stocky forward beat John Hills to the ball to head low past Lucas from just six yards out.

With their backs against the wall Wednesday had to hold strong defensively to stay in the match. Lucas again was the hero with 20 minutes left on the clock. A low ball from the left beat everbody and fell into the lap of Feeney who seemed destined to give Luton the lead with the goal at his mercy, but Lucas pulled off a world class save to keep the ball from going in. Richard Wood reacted quickly to deny any chance of Feeney getting in a rebound effort.

Wednesday's best chance at the other end fell to Graham whose 20 yard shot was only inches away, whilst the Hatters saw a Chris Coyne header denied by the post. A point was probably a fair result overall, and a point was enough to take the Owls off the bottom of the Championship table for at least 24 hours.

Paul Sturrock's post match comments:
"In all the games we've played this season I don't think we've been outfought or outbattled. The way Luton play, they attack, so we knew we could get in behind them if we played the ball right. It was just disappointing to concede so soon after taking the lead but hopefully our lads will take heart from this."