Gerald Sibon fired Sheffield Wednesday into the fourth round of the FA Cup
with a well-taken finish.
Sibon struck his eighth goal of the season in the 82nd minute in what was a
game of two halves against First Division rivals.
The Owls had the better of the chances in the opening 45 minutes, taking the
lead through Matthew Hamshaw just before the break.
But in the second half Norwich looked the most dangerous of the two sides and
scored a deserved equaliser through Iwan Roberts on 74 minutes.
Despite the Canaries' pressure it was Sibon who stepped up to hand victory to
the Owls.
Wednesday should have gone into the break with more than a goal to their name
after wasting a number of good chances.
After nine minutes Hamshaw saw his 20-yard shot deflected wide for a corner.
From the resulting set piece Efan Ekoku saw his header blocked by Darel
Russell.
Steve Harkness and Ekoku both failed to hit the target with their chances
midway through the first half as Norwich struggled to find their feet.
And after 41 minutes the home side broke the deadlock. Steve Haslam's throw in
was flicked on by Ekoku and Sibon, before Hamshaw launched himself at the ball
to head into the top right-hand corner.
Norwich almost went into the interval all square, but Owls' keeper Chris
Stringer pulled off a fine save from a fierce 25-yard drive from Russell.
After the break Norwich, under new boss Nigel Worthington, looked a different
side and had the opening chance within a minute.
Substitute Adrian Coote forced Chris Stringer into a full-stretch save from 12
yards.
After 54 minutes the visitors wasted a golden opportunity through Roberts. A
Matt Jackson cross eluded Stringer and the ball dropped to Roberts 18 yards from
goal.
But the Welsh international's shot looped over the bar with virtually an open
goal in front of him.
Norwich were rewarded for their improved display after 74 minutes when leading
scorer Roberts netted the equaliser.
A Jackson free-kick was headed on by substitute Alex Notman to Roberts, who
headed the ball over the line from close range.
Norwich looked to be the only side likely to win the game but it was the Owls
who stepped up a gear before netting the winner.
Former Norwich striker Ekoku laid the ball to Sibon, allowing the Dutchman to
turn his marker before firing in a fierce left-foot strike.
The goal seemed to give the home side a boost and went close to adding to
their tally towards the end.
Quinn and Owen Morrison both wasted good opportunities.
At the death Coote gave the home side a scare when his glancing header was
knocked narrowly wide by Stringer, but Wednesday go into the draw for the fourth
round.
Teams:
Sheff Wed: Stringer, Haslam (Morrison 76), Harkness, Blatsis,
Walker, Quinn, Hendon, Lescott, Hamshaw (Bromby 76), Sibon,
Ekoku, Bromby (Crane 90).
Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Di Piedi.
Booked: Hendon, Stringer.
Goals: Hamshaw 41, Sibon 82.
Norwich: Andy Marshall, Sutch (Kenton 62), Lee Marshall,
Fleming, Jackson, Mackay, Mulryne (Coote 45), Russell,
Forbes (Notman 62), Roberts, Llewellyn.
Subs Not Used: Green, Walsh.
Goals: Roberts 74.
Att: 15,971
Ref: D Laws (Whitley Bay).
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