Wednesday 0-2 Stoke

Date:  Saturday 26th November

Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield

Goals from Sam Bangoura and Mamady Sidebe condemned Wednesday to 20th place in the Championship after a 2-0 defeat at home to Stoke City.

Wednesday created the better chances but Stoke hit Wednesday on the break twice having hardly troubled on-loan keeper Nicky Weaver.

Paul Sturrock made five changes to the side that drew with Plymouth Argyle in midweek. Craig Rocastle came in to the side in place of Burton O'Brien. Graham Coughlan made a surprise return after passing a late fitness test. Chris Eagles had flu so Richie Partridge took his place on the right side of midfield to make his first home appearance in a blue and white shirt. Latest signing Darly Murphy also started up front alongside David Graham but Peter Gilbert was left out of the team until he gets to know his new team mates.

Lewis Buxton and Mamady Sidebe were dropped to the bench following the 2-1 home defeat to Derby in midweek. Marlon Broomes was brought in to face his old club, whilst Sigurdsson was also brought back in to the team.

Wednesday made the brightest start with new-signing Daryl Murphy finding himself through on goal after just five minutes. His shot was blocked by Simonson in the City goal, and Broomes was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Richie Partridge then saw a long-range effort go over the visitors bar, while Chris Brunt had two free-kicks in quick succession. One was well saved by Simonson while the other failed to get through the Stoke wall.

The tone of the game was set on 18 minutes when City opened the scoring. After much of the earlier play had put the home side in the ascendancy it was Sam Bangoura who opened the scoring. Carl Hoefkens punted a long ball forward but the Owls back four were late in responding and despite an appeal for offisde, Bangoura slotted the ball home comfortably.

Matters were nearly made worse just minutes later when Bangoura again broke free of the Owls back line thanks to a defensive error, but Nicky Weaver came to Wednesdays rescue with a superb stop.

Wednesday got back in to the game and new boy Murphy nearly found the equaliser but his low shot was easily saved by Simonson. Paul Heckingbottom could have done better with his header which drifted wide from a cross.

The second game began just as the first had ended, with Wednesday pushing to find that elusive goal. Chris Brunt found himself unmarked after a scramble in the box, but his right-footed effort was superbly saved by Simonson, who was certainly the busier keeper.

Brunt had another half-chance minutes later when he met a cross at the back post, but his effort drifted just wide.

Daryl Murphy also had another opportunity but screwed his shot wide of the far post.

Boss Paul Sturrock tried to change the swing of the game and brought on O'Brien and Agbonlahor to replace Heckingbottom and Partridge. The Owls switched to a 4-4-3 formation with Brunt and Murphy supporting Agbonlahor through the middle.

The change nearly paid off when the on-loan Villa striker nearly broke thorugh the Stoke defence after a long ball forward. He outpaced Duberry and Broomes but couldn't find a way through Simonsen in the Stoke goal.

The game was done and dusted in the 86th minute after Mamady Sidebe ended his goalscoring drought with a simple tap in.

The result leaves Wednesday just one point from the relegation zone in 20th place. Tough games lie ahead in the form of Sheffield United and Hull City away, and the Owls could have really done with something from the match.

Next up, an easy trip to Bramall Lane on the cards...

The game could have gone on until late in the night and it looked like Wednesay would have struggled to find the net. Stoke pushed forward late on and won a free-kick. Brammer's free-kick was met by a volley from Broomes who shot over the bar.

WW Man Of The Match:  Daryl Murphy

Wednesday:

Weaver, Heckingbottom (O'Brien 71), Coughlan, Diallo, Simek, Whelan, Brunt, Partridge (Agbonlahor 76), Rocastle, Murphy, Graham (McGovern 71).
Subs Not Used: Wood, Corr.

Stoke City:

Simonsen, Hoefkens, Broomes, Duberry, Halls, Brammer, Russell, Chadwick (Henry 79), Gallagher, Bangoura (Buxton 90), Sigurdsson (Sidibe 45).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Kolar.

Paul Sturrock told the official SWFC site:

''It's dissapointing for everybody but strangely enough there are a lot of positives to take out of the game. We created an awful lot of chances and their goalie made two instinctive saves.''

''I don't believe our confidence is eroded as far as our general play is concerned but there is a lack of belief about scoring goals. Everybody's trying to be too safe or precise but goalscoring is normally instinctive. It's up to us to try and work on that as much as we can.''

Paul Sturrock told BBC Sport:

"I don't believe confidence has eroded about our general play.

"But I do think there's a lack of belief about scoring goals. It's the belief thing that we're having the problem with.

"The two strikers have played well but at the end of the day we've not scored any goals."

Attendance:  21,970

Referee:   A Hall (7/10)

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