Owls come from be-Hinds to claw out of drop zone for the first time

Seven days is a long time in football. Last Saturday evening Brian Laws was celebrating a 4-2 win at Stoke City and so were the fans, hoping that the season had finally the corner and The Owls would be on course to push up the table. It was a great win against a side in the top six and undefeated in seven games. With two home games next up surely everything was looking for the better.

But three days later Laws stormed out of Hillsborough, avoiding the post match press conference, after watching his old club not only put one over him but seriously put his job on the line. There were strong calls in the media that the following game was d-day for the Owls gaffer. He may have dismissed the notion that defeat here at home to Blackpool would've brought an end to his reign but in football things can change so quickly from day to day, week to week.

And so the emotional wheel turned a full circle for Laws during the past seven days as Wednesday came from a goal behind to score twice in five minutes and steal all three points and, for the first time this season, move out of the relegation zone. Relief, too, for a Hillsborough crowd some five to six thousand less than average.

The Owls dominated possession and chances in the first half but still went in a goal behind at the break. Such is life.

Marcus Tudgay had a shot cleared off the line as early as the 6th minute and 15 minutes later Burton O'Brien's deflected cross forced a good save from Seasider's keeper Paul Rachubka.

Blackpool took the lead in the 37th minute as Wes Hoolahan turned sharply on the edge of the box and fired in accurately past Lee Grant for 1-0.

Wednesday continued to press in the second half and although the decision to replace Akpo Sodje with Deon Burton after 63 minutes proved unpopular with the home crowd the move paid dividends later. In the 66th minute Jermaine Johnson charged down the right wing and crossed in deep from the byline. Marcus Tudgay rose high to head in at the back post for his third goal in as many games.

A second goal inside five minutes send the Hillsborough crowd wild. Rachubka pushed a Burton shot wide and the resulting O'Brien corner was headed in by Hinds. The perfect time for the defender to score his first goal for the club since signing in the summer.

It was to be the final game for midfielder Graham Kavanagh who now returns to Sunderland following his one month loan spell with The Owls. Defender Michael Johnson, just as influential in the past four weeks, will stay on for a further month.

Laws verdict: "I'm under pressure because of the results we've had but it goes with the territory." "We've had a torrid start to the season and when you're not winning games there's no calmness there." "I'm sure you'll say that was a massive win for Brian Laws and may have saved his job. I see it differently but you might not believe what I say."