Bantams late break denies Wednesday win
Wednesday were denied their first win of the season in the Yorkshire derby against Premier League new-comers Bradford, when the Bantams were awarded an 89th minute penalty when Simon Donnelly was adjudged to have pulled down Peter Beagrie.
Danny Wilson was not present at the after match press conference, no doubt wanting to keep himself away from trouble with the F.A about comments he may make. Certainly Wilson and his player's feel the decision was a harsh one, and seeing it on replay shows that although there may have been contact, it was fairly minimal.
It was Bradford's second last minute strike in successive games, after they sneaked a 1-0 win away to Middlesbrough last weekend.
Before the game things had looked up for the Owls, with Wim Jonk returning to the side to make his first appearance of the season. Italian Benito Carbone was also in the starting line-up, following substitute starts in the first two games of the season - while Kevin Pressman earnt his call-up back to the side, after a long period behind Pavel Srnicek.
It was the re-called man Carbone who was causing all the troubles, and was unlucky not to score. One particular move was almost finished in typical spectacular Carbone fashion - when the little man ran rings round several Bradford defenders before having his shot blocked, and almost finished on the rebound but to be thwarted by a goal line clearance.
Just before the break Wednesday got their goal, an own goal by John Dreyer - but Danny Wilson wouldn't have minded that at all.
Half-time: Bradford 0-1 Owls
Five minutes in the second period and Wilson was already having to ring in the changes - Andy Hinchcliffe going off with a head injury, making way for Lee Briscoe to come on. At this point the Owls switched to a 3-man central defence.
Bradford stuck at it and Wednesday were struggling to create many opportunities in the second half. Wilson brought on Scot Simon Donnelly and Andy Booth for the final 13 minutes of the game.
There was heart-break for the Owls right at the end, when the Bantams were awarded a last minute penalty when Donnelly, the substitute, was adjudged to have brought down the scorer of the own goal and Bradford skipper John Dreyer. Peter Beagrie dispatched the spot kick to deny Wednesday two extra points.
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