FA Premier League - Saturday 3rd April 1999, from Hillsborough

V

Result
Sheffield Wednesday	1	2	Coventry City
Rudi 51		McAllister 19 (pen) Whelan 84
Att: 28,136

Teams
Srnicek	Hedman
Atherton	Edworthy
Briscoe	Breen
Walker	Shaw
Thome	Williams
Alexandersson	Telfer
Jonk	McAllister
Humphreys	Whelan
Rudi	Froggatt
Cresswell	Huckerby
Carbone	Boateng

Subs

Subs

Newsome - Walker (46 mins)	Clement - McAllister (90 mins)
Sonner - Humphreys (46 mins)
Scott - Jonk (90 mins)

Un-used Subs

Un-used Subs

Pressman	Konjic
Agogo	Gioacchino
	Soltvedt
	Kirkland

Match Report

Coventry crash as Owls slump continues From Carlingnet - www.fa-carling.com Noel Whelan returned to Yorkshire to put Sheffield Wednesday back in the FA Carling Premiership relegation frame with a late winner for Coventry at Hillsborough. The Leeds-born striker struck seven minutes from time to plunge Wednesday deep into trouble. It was scant reward for the Owls who had tunnelled their way back into the game following Gary McAllister's 19th-minute penalty. Six minutes after the break, debut boy Richard Cresswell linked with second-half strike partner Benito Carbone to fashion Petter Rudi's equaliser. But just as the Owls seemed certain to claim at least a point, Whelan struck to give the Sky Blues a vital lifeline in their perennial fight against the drop to the First Division. Rudi should have placed a very different complexion on the first period but he squandered a great chance in the 13th minute. Good work between Niclas Alexandersson and Carbone afforded the Italian space to cross from the right but the unmarked Rudi lashed at the ball instead of taking advantage of the space and fired over the crossbar. But Rudi was unfortunate in the 16th minute after a great pass by Des Walker found Peter Atherton sprinting to the by-line. The Owls skipper sent over a great cross but the Wednesday midfielder's flicked header at the near post hit the post and away for a goal kick. Coventry appeared to be reeling from the wave of play against them until Breen sent a tremendous long pass forward to Huckerby in the 19th minute. Emerson Thome appeared to be set to clear but missed his kick leaving Huckerby free to run into the area. But, recognising the danger of his former Newcastle team-mate, Wednesday goalkeeper Srnicek raced off his line only to haul down the striker. McAllister comfortably stroked home his third goal of the season from the spot following Srnicek's booking. The Sky Blues' confidence soared and a series of McAllister corners threatened regularly as Srnicek failed to communicate with his colleagues. Sky Blues midfielder Paul Telfer followed Srnicek into Keith Burge's notebook for a crunching tackle on Rudi in the 35th minute. Half-time: Owls 0-1 Coventry Wednesday's debut boy Cresswell struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premiership but received some richly deserved applause in injury time when he forced a good save from Hedman after a mazy run. Then Wilson played his master stroke bringing Sonner into midfield in place of Ritchie Humphreys allowing Carbone a more attacking role alongside Cresswell. Wednesday were transformed and the switch reaped the most handsome of rewards six minutes after the break when the Italian scissor-kicked Cresswell's header goalwards. The acrobatic strike appeared to be going wide before Rudi hit the ball into the roof of the net at the far post. Coventry's frustration was beginning to show and Noel Whelan landed himself a 56th-minute caution for a late challenge on Srnicek. Even manager Gordon Strachan became embroiled with the match when he was told to cool his temper by referee Keith Burge for remonstrating over the position of a 68th minute throw. Cresswell should have put his own name on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute when a brilliant Sonner pass gave him space in the area but his aim was poor. It was to prove a costly miss when with just seven minutes remaining, Coventry scored again against the run of play. A Huckerby low cross was met by Whelan on the six-yard area. Srnicek came to meet the striker but could stretch out a leg and the ball bounced beyond the Czech Republic goalkeeper to make the score 2-1.