Swede victory for Owls
The Premiership big boys really aren't enjoying their trips to Hillsborough these days. Last season the Owls were the only side to beat both Arsenal and Manchester Utd. This season it's happened again - Wednesday beating Alex Ferguson's men 3-1 to follow the dramatic 1-0 win over Arsenal earlier in the season.
Before this game United had strung together some impressive performances and were a team playing like one's that have been so successful in the 90's. Wednesday have also played well recently but results haven't gone their way with a 1-2 defeat to Leeds where a draw would've been a fair result and then the 1-1 draw with Newcastle last week when Ruud Gullit's men were lucky to escape with a point.
The game shot into life when Swedish midfielder Alexandersson had a crack from 25 yards out and it caught Schmeichel by suprise who fumbled the ball - eventually into his own net at his great embarassment.
United weren't playing well but they did equalise on the half hour mark when a good move involving the inform partnership of United's 2 front men leading to Cole firing past Srnicek on his home debut.
Irwin felt he deserved a penalty when Alexandersson brought him down in the area on 37 mins but it wasn't to be. United were enjoying the better of the play and they came close again when their £10 Dutch defender Stam had a shot palmed wide by the Owls keeper. Right on the half-time whistle it looked like Man.Utd were 2-1 up when Scholes appeared to head it in - only to be booked by the referee for punching the ball in.
Half-time: Owls 1-1 Manchester Utd
On 55 mins Wednesday took the lead when a fine move which started from a quick throw by Carbone saw Sonner and Alexandersson combine before Booth's shot was too hot to handle for Schmeichel, who could only watch as Jonk struck in his first goal for Wednesday.
Alex Ferguson made a string of substitutions while Danny Wilson opted to stick to the same 11. United will be kicking themselves after this defensive/goalkeeping performance when they stuffed up again in the 73rd minute. Beckham and Stam were caught being too casual at the back as Alexandersson to sneak in and score his second and Wednesday's third to send the packed 39,000 crowd nuts.
It was Wednesday's first win for 6 games - incidently its their first win since beating Arsenal 1-0 back in September. The month which on paper looked a nightmare isn't turning out so bad after all. Next week is another tough trip away, this time to the inform team of the Premier League - Chelsea.
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