Sheffield Wednesday moved to within a point of securing their first division
status with an amazing fightback over South Yorkshire rival Barnsley.
The Owls had looked dead and buried as Barnsley led through a first half Neil
Shipperley strike.
But with 11 minutes of the game remaining the Owls came alive as Gerald
Sibon's free kick levelled the scores before Simon Donnelly put the home side
into the lead just five minutes later.
It all but ended Wednesday's drop fears as they secured an eighth win in 13
games under caretaker boss Peter Shreeves.
The result was harsh on a Barnsley side who had enjoyed a lot of the play.
The first opening came for the visitors after just nine minutes Martin Bullock
found Shipperley with a right wing cross. But Owls keeper Kevin Pressman was
equal to Shipperley's first time effort.
The visitors then moved into the lead on 18 minutes, Darren Barnard's cross
was met by Shipperley, who nipped in behind Leigh Bromby before sidefooting the
ball into Pressman's bottom left hand corner from six yards.
Wednesday thought they had levelled the scores five minutes later. But Gilles
de Bilde's strike was disallowed for handball.
Wednesday went close a minute later when Efan Ekoku was played through by
Stuart Ripley. However Miller deflected Ekoku's shot wide of target with his
foot.
The visitors went close to doubling their lead, but Bullock's drive hit the
Owls' side netting.
After the break, Wednesday again struggled to find second gear and gifted
possession far too easily.
Their only dangerman was the enigmatic Sibon who volleyed wide on 69 minutes.
At the other end Shipperley created space to fire a low drive forcing Pressman
into a fine save.
But on 79 minutes, the home side brought the scores level, with Sibon
brilliant 25 yard free-kick curling into the Barnsley's top left hand corner.
The Owls grew in confidence and snatched a dramatic winner through Donnelly.
The Scottish international had only been on the field a matter of minutes in
his first Owls appearance this season.
A Trond Soltvedt throw in was flicked on by Ekoku to Donnelly who turned his
marker before driving past Barnsley keeper Kevin Miller.
Teams
Sheff Wed: Pressman, Harkness (Donnelly 78), Walker, Bromby, Hendon, Soltvedt, Sibon, Lescott (Geary 64), Ripley, Ekoku, De Bilde (Morrison 59).
Subs Not Used: Stringer, Di Piedi.
Booked: Harkness.
Goals: Sibon 79, Donnelly 84.
Barnsley: Miller, Regan, Morgan, Barker, Barnard, Parkin, Ward, Bullock (Barrowclough 81), Neil, Shipperley, Dyer.
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Sheron, Kay, Brown.
Booked: Ward.
Goals: Shipperley 19.
Att: 23,498.
Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).
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