Sheffield Wednesday bade farewell to Division One on a high note as they edged
out Walsall at Hillsborough.
In a game which burst to life in the second half, the Owls claimed victory
after substitute Lloyd Owusu came off the bench to turn the game.
Chris Turner's side found themselves 1-0 down just after the interval when
Walsall substitute Pedro Matias put the Saddlers ahead.
But former Brentford striker Owusu then arrived with instant impact to first
bundle home from close range and then set up Alan Quinn for the winner.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of the possession in a lacklustre opening
period but lacked the cutting edge to make their possession tell.
Brazilian striker Junior, fresh from his hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Derby
last week, looked a handful with his pace but failed to get the service to cause
the Wednesday defence a real problem.
Set-pieces looked to be the likeliest source of a breakthrough and after 17
minutes veteran defender Tony Barras was unlucky to see his towering header from
Vinny Samways' corner blocked by Richard Wood.
But Walsall were beginning to step up the pace, with Carl Robinson blasting
wide from distance three minutes later.
It was not until the midway point of the half that Wednesday got going, but it
was almost worth the wait for the home fans with Shefki Kuqi climbing highest to
meet Ashley Westwood's hanging cross only to head the wrong side of the post.
That seemed to spur the home side into life and 14 minutes before the break
Kuqi again threatened with a low drive from the edge of the box.
But it was Walsall who had the best chance to snatch a lead at the interval as
Junior unleashed a swerving drive that Pressman somehow managed to divert away
with his feet.
Having made a double substitution at the break - with Jorge Leitao replaced by
Matias and Jamie Lawrence brought on in place of Martin O'Connor - the Saddlers
started the second half at full throttle.
And within 10 minutes the change brought rewards as Matias made an almost
instant impact.
Zigor Aranalde did well to down the flank with a dangerous cross that Wood had
to hack away and when the resulting corner was only half cleared, Matias pounced
to fire his side ahead.
Wednesday sensed the game could be slipping away from them and in a bid to
regain the momentum Turner sent on Owusu in place of Kuqi.
And two minutes later the former Brentford made his mark in emphatic style as
he stole in ahead of his marker to sidefoot home from six yards.
After the lacklustre action of the first half, the game had suddenly sparked
into life with Owusu leading the renewed Wednesday charge.
After 72 minutes he raced away only to be denied by a last-ditch challenge
from Barras but three minutes later he got free again to set up Wednesday's
second.
When the ball broke in midfield, the burly striker burst down the left leaving
the defence in his wake and as the ball was squared back across the box, Quinn
steamed in unmarked to hammer home.
Wednesday had turned the game on its head and 13 minutes before the end they
thought they had earned the chance to seal the points.
When Grant Holt broke into the box he was bundled over but, having appeared to
point to the spot, the referee consulted with his assistant only to reverse the
decision.
In the closing stages, Wednesday piled forward in search of the third goal
their pressure deserved.
But for all the efforts of Owusu - who again hit a dipping volley close - the
scoreline could not be improved.
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