FA Premier League - Saturday 11th March 2000, from Hillsborough

V

Result
Sheffield Wednesday	3	1	West Ham Utd
Cresswell 56 Hinchcliffe 63 Alexandersson 66		Lampard 10
Att: 21,147

Teams
Srnicek	Forrest
Nolan	Stimac
Hinchcliffe	Sinclair
Atherton	Ruddock
Walker	Ferdinand
Alexandersson	Lomas
Jonk	Foe
Haslam	Lampard
Quinn	Moncur
de Bilde	Wanchope
Sibon	Di Canio

Subs

Subs

Cresswell - Sibon (46 mins)	Cole - Moncur (68 mins)
Sonner - Jonk (80 mins)

Un-used Subs

Un-used Subs

Pressman	Illic
Briscoe	Keller
Staniforth	Kitson
	Margas

Match Report

Wednesday win in second half comeback over Hammers In his pre-match notes Owls boss Danny Wilson bravely predicted the Owls wouldn't be beaten for the remainder of the season. A 10th minute goal by Frank Lampard sent Wednesday behind early on, a familar sight for Wednesday fans, and Wilson thinking he might be eating his words come full-time. But his players gave a second half performance that proved that Wednesday aren't going to give up without a fight. A relatively small crowd of just 21,000 was at Hillsborough to 'welcome' Paolo Di Canio - his first trip back to Sheffield since his £2.7m move last January. It wasn't a happy return for the Italian as his side was outclassed in the second half of this match. Wim Jonk returned to the side for the first time in a month, and the influence he has on the players around him was there to be seen. Wilson has said all along that if he can pick a full strength side that the Owls can beat anyone in the league. There's no doubt that that strongest side includes Jonk, and if he and other key players in the side can avoid injury from now until May that they may just have a chance of survival. It was below par defending by the home side that lead to the game's first goal after ten minutes, a West Ham move that began with some tricky play from Di Canio. He set up John Moncur whose cross from the left-wing was messed up by keeper Pavel Srnicek and Moncur was given a second bite of the cherry, but mistimed his volley. The ball then fell into the path of Paolo Wanchope whose effort seemed to be going wide before a deflection off Frank Lampard saw the ball end up in the back of the net. Going behind to an early goal is a scene all too familiar for Wednesday this season - and their attempts to get back into the game after that seemed helpless. Wim Jonk had a long range effort saved by Canadian keeper Craig Forrest. From the following corner Swede Niclas Alexandersson tried his luck with a curling shot, again denied by Forrest. West Ham were looking strong and there seemed no way through for the Owls - youngster Alan Quinn could've had his second goal in as many games when Jonk pulled the ball back, but the Irishman couldn't stick the chance away. Out of form Belgian Gilles de Bilde was almost through on goal if it weren't for a well timed tackle from the goal scorer Lampard. Just before half-time Di Canio, who was receiving a chorus of boos and chants from the home crowd at every touch of the player, almost help put his side 2-0 up. Some brilliant play from him set up Wanchope but with just Srnicek to beat, the Costa Rican shot straight at Srnicek's legs. Half-time: Owls 0-1 West Ham There were obviously some strong words in the home dressing room at half-time as Wilson had to endure watching his players put in another heartless effort during that opening 45 minutes. Former York City man Richard Cresswell came on for Gerald Sibon after the break and he impacted almost straight away. The equalising goal came ten minutes after the break and it all began from a defensive error by England defender Rio Ferdinand. He was guilty of being robbed by De Bilde right on the edge of the West Ham box, and he slipped the ball through to Quinn who in return fed the ball to Cresswell. With his back to goal the 22 year-old forward did brilliantly to turn on the ball and fire low and hard past Forrest and into the net. Seven minutes later Wednesday were ahead with undoubtedly the best goal of the season at Hillsborough, possibly even one of the best this season in the Premier League. From out of the blue, full-back Andy Hinchcliffe let fly with a 35-yard screamer that flew past Forrest and into the room of the West Ham net. If there was ever an inspirational moment to swing things around this was it, and from here on in the Owls looked likely to go on to take all three points. It was game, set and match three minutes later in the 66th minute when the Owls went 3-1 up. The Hammers' shot stopper Craig Forrest was left embarassed as an Alexandersson shot from 12 yards out somehow creeped past him and over the line. Wednesday might've had another goal in the dying minutes but it wasn't to be. The final whistle blew and maximum points had been taken. With other results going their way this weekend the Owls have pulled the gap to Braford, one place above them in the table, to just five points now.