Saturday 15 January 2011

Sheffield Wednesday 2 v Charlton Athletic 2

Keith Peacock may have been leading the side today at Hillsborough but Chris Powell was in attendance and he saw his reign start in dream fashion as Scott Wagstaff headed Charlton ahead after only four minutes before Johnnie Jackson put Charlton in full control with another penalty just two minutes later.


I missed the first goal because I was relying on CAFC Player, which once again let us down. The commentary only started after five minutes with the penalty. I was surprised to see a report flash up on Sky saying we were one-up when the penalty hadn't yet been taken. I was trying to figure out how the match commentary might be delayed when it became clear we were about to go two-up. Again I was forced to listen to the home commentary because the two blokes doing it for us (BBC London) were more interested in chatting than actually telling us what was happening. The Wednesday commentary (John Pearson was one of them) also went through half-time so we didn't have to listen to the microphone being left on the table whilst BBC London's commentators treated us to the sounds of them moving chairs and eating their half-time snacks like they usually do.


Charlton had more first-half possession and when Wednesday were awarded a penalty five minutes before the break it looked like the signal for a collapse but Rob Elliot knew what was needed for Chris Powell and he kept the effort out with a full stretch diving save. As I said, it was a dream start to half-time.


Wednesday were booed off and Neil Mellor was sacrificed at the break for Paul Heffernan. It was the substitute who lashed home minutes after the restart. Charlton should have scored within a minute to restore their two goal lead but Joe Anyinsah missed a sitter and put the ball over the bar. The Hillsborough crowd came alive and Wednesday forced an equaliser after 51 minutes when Johnson headed past Rob Elliot. 


Akpo Sodje came on to a huge round of applause from the Wednesdayites although the commentators said they expected him to limp off injured if it was a typical performance of his at Hillsborough. Joe Anyinsah was subbed and will rue his miss at 2-1.


Wednesday continued to take the game to Charlton in the second-half with Jermaine Johnson a constant threat on the ball and he kept the Charlton back-line busy defending his balls in. In a bold move, Charlton went to 4-4-2 with twenty to go as Nathan Eccleston came on for Therry Racon.


Sodje saw a deflected effort beat Weaver but it also cleared the bar. 


Kyel Reid got on for McCormack before the finish as the third attacking substitution and a Simon Francis cross was nearly turned home by Sodje but Nicky Weaver made a good save. Charlton pressed in the last few minutes of normal time as Reid tried to run at Wednesday on the flank.


There were four minutes of added time and we had to endure Wednesday coming within inches of a winner and then hitting a post.


A good point in normal circumstances and better than I was expecting but ultimately not good enough for what we need right now. With Brighton, Huddersfield and MK Dons all winning and Southampton surprisingly held at St Mary's, we end the day in 7th and our game in hand (at Hartlepool) would only get us to 5th as things stand and we have yet to play Southampton.


Plymouth at the Valley next week should be an emotionally charged atmosphere and we simply have to win a league game for the first time in nine weeks. Welcome to the hot-seat Chris.

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