Super sub Macca helps Owls to first win of year

The Owls secured their first win of 2007 after a nervy 3-2 home win over relegation bound Southend. Brian Laws' major change to the team saw Everton loanee Iain Turner start in goal for the axed Mark Crossley, who didn't even make a spot on the bench.

Turner had a decent match throughout and could not be blamed for the shambolic defending that allowed the visitors to take an early lead after 15 minutes. Defender Lewis Hunt was unchallenged from only a few yards out and bundled the ball home. But that lead lasted a mere 60 seconds when Marcus Tudgay celebrated his 8th goal of the season with a free-kick that found the back of the net.

Wednesday took the lead shortly before the half hour mark thanks to a slice of luck as Spencor Prior sliced the ball past his own keeper.

The home side was guilty of failing to score a third, or even fourth, goal before the break to really kill the game off and that allowed Southend back into the match in the second half as their star man Freddie Eastwood made his mark on the match with a 62nd minute equaliser.

But not for the first time this season there was late drama at Hillsborough as Wednesday were awarded a dubious penalty after Jermaine Johnson's shot had struck the hand of Hunt. Referee Marinner pointed to the spot and super sub Steve MacLean made no mistake from the spot in tucking away his 9th goal of the season, his fourth from the penalty spot.

MacLean's "up yours" gestures to the bench after scoring were revealed as his reaction to Leon Clarke being subbed on before himself.

Laws verdict: "It was an important three points for us and a nervy one at that. Thank God we've got our first win of the year - let's hope we can go on from there and end the season well." "I was disappointed we didn't score four or five given the chances we created. We had to work hard for it and it shows the players have some mettle."