Benny shines in goal-less draw
Tottenham were the visitors to Hillsborough today as Wednesday aimed to end a run of three successive league defeats. Spur's manager George Graham has a reputation for his team's defences being solid, his defence held out today but only just. It was Wednesday who ended the game being the more dissapointed of the two teams from this goalless draw with a handful of goal-scoring chances missed.
Many pundits before the game predicted Spurs winger David Ginola to rip apart the Owls defence, including Watford and ex-England manager Graham Taylor after his First Division side were thrashed 5-2 in the FA Cup 3rd round last week at White Hart Lane. In the end it was Wednesday's little Italian wizard Benito Carbone who made the headlines with a dazzling display - all he needed was a goal to top off his performance.
There was once again no Andy Booth in the Wednesday line-up as he is still out with a ankle injury, this meant Ritche Humphreys partnered Carbone upfront once again. Dejan Stefanovic also kept his place in the side ahead of Danny Sonner - the Yugoslav was to be guilty later in the game of missing some howlers. Spurs gave a debut to German midfielder Steffen Freund and Steffen Iversen kept Chris Armstrong on the bench. There was also a return to Hillsborough for ex-Owls winger Andy Sinton.
England striker Les Ferdinand limped off after only 9 minutes with a knee injury after collided with a team mate. Armstrong replaced him, obviously not the start Spurs would've wanted. It got worse for them on 27 minutes when Darren Anderton left the field through injury.
On 21 minutes Spurs almost took the lead - a terrible defensive error by Stefanovic almost gifted a goal to Iversen but that man Emerson Thome was there to save the Owls with a superbly timed challenge.
Just minutes later Wednesday had their first real chance of the game when Dutch master Wim Jonk chipped the ball over the Spurs defence and picked out Stefanovic who controlled well and seemed certain to score and instead blasted it over from close range.
In the 38th minute the Owls once again found a way through the Spurs defence. This time a great pass from Thome was pulled back on the by-line by Stefanovic before England defender Sol Campbell denied Carbone from opening the scoring.
Half-time: Owls 0-0 Tottenham
Tottenham's best chance of the game came when Ginola provided a pinpoint cross to Iversen but his shot was pushed away by Srnicek. Ginola was at the centre of attention again when Spurs felt they deserved a penalty when the Frenchman went down after a challenge from Owls skipper Peter Atherton, the ref was having none of it.
Wednesday tried late-on in the game to snatch a winner but the Tottenham defence held on just. Unsuprisingly after the game Tottenham boss George Graham voiced his disagreement over the penalty decision, Danny Wilson saw it the other way.
|
Freund