Noel Whelan returned to Yorkshire to put Sheffield Wednesday back in the
relegation frame with a late winner for Coventry at Hillsborough.
The Leeds-born striker struck seven minutes from time to plunge Wednesday deep
into trouble.
It was scant reward for the Owls who had tunnelled their way back into the
game following Gary McAllister's 19th-minute penalty.
Six minutes after the break, debut boy Richard Cresswell linked with
second-half strike partner Benito Carbone to fashion Petter Rudi's equaliser.
But just as the Owls seemed certain to claim at least a point, Whelan struck
to give the Sky Blues a vital lifeline in their perennial fight against the drop
to the First Division.
Rudi should have placed a very different complexion on the first period but he
squandered a great chance in the 13th minute.
Good work between Niclas Alexandersson and Carbone afforded the Italian space
to cross from the right but the unmarked Rudi lashed at the ball instead of
taking advantage of the space and fired over the crossbar.
But Rudi was unfortunate in the 16th minute after a great pass by Des Walker
found Peter Atherton sprinting to the by-line.
The Owls skipper sent over a great cross but the Wednesday midfielder's
flicked header at the near post hit the post and away for a goal kick.
Coventry appeared to be reeling from the wave of play against them until Breen
sent a tremendous long pass forward to Huckerby in the 19th minute.
Emerson Thome appeared to be set to clear but missed his kick leaving Huckerby
free to run into the area.
But, recognising the danger of his former Newcastle team-mate, Wednesday
goalkeeper Srnicek raced off his line only to haul down the striker.
McAllister comfortably stroked home his third goal of the season from the spot
following Srnicek's booking.
The Sky Blues' confidence soared and a series of McAllister corners threatened
regularly as Srnicek failed to communicate with his colleagues.
Sky Blues midfielder Paul Telfer followed Srnicek into Keith Burge's notebook
for a crunching tackle on Rudi in the 35th minute.
Wednesday's debut boy Cresswell struggled to adapt to the pace of the
Premiership but received some richly deserved applause in injury time when he
forced a good save from Hedman after a mazy run.
Then Wilson played his master stroke bringing Sonner into midfield in place of
Ritchie Humphreys allowing Carbone a more attacking role alongside Cresswell.
Wednesday were transformed and the switch reaped the most handsome of rewards
six minutes after the break when the Italian scissor-kicked Cresswell's header
goalwards.
The acrobatic strike appeared to be going wide before Rudi hit the ball into
the roof of the net at the far post.
Coventry's frustration was beginning to show and Noel Whelan landed himself a
56th-minute caution for a late challenge on Srnicek.
Even manager Gordon Strachan became embroiled with the match when he was told
to cool his temper by referee Keith Burge for remonstrating over the position of
a 68th minute throw.
Cresswell should have put his own name on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute
when a brilliant Sonner pass gave him space in the area but his aim was poor.
It was to prove a costly miss when with just seven minutes remaining, Coventry
scored again against the run of play.
A Huckerby low cross was met by Whelan on the six-yard area. Srnicek came to
meet the striker but could stretch out a leg and the ball bounced beyond the
Czech Republic goalkeeper to make the score 2-1.
Teams
Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Atherton, Walker (Newsome 46), Thome,
Briscoe, Alexandersson, Jonk (Scott 90), Rudi, Cresswell,
Carbone, Humphreys (Sonner 46).
Subs Not Used: Pressman, Agogo.
Booked: Srnicek, Sonner.
Goals: Rudi 51.
Coventry: Hedman, Edworthy, Breen, Shaw, Williams, Boateng,
Telfer, McAllister (Clement 90), Froggatt, Huckerby, Whelan.
Subs Not Used: Konjic, Gioacchino, Soltvedt, Kirkland.
Booked: Telfer, Whelan.
Goals: McAllister 19 pen, Whelan 84.
Att: 28,136.
Ref: K Burge (Tonypandy).
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