Sheffield Wednesday 1 Barnsley 0
Source: Sportinglife.com (Original Article)
Sheffield Wednesday lifted the boardroom gloom at Hillsborough following chairman Dave Allen’s shock resignation last week with a timely win over local rivals Barnsley thanks to Akpo Sodje’s second-half header.
The bustling striker powered home Burton O’Brien’s 61st-minute free-kick to settle a rousing derby clash and provide Owls fans with the perfect tonic.
Millionaire casino owner Allen quit his post last Friday, citing a breakdown of trust in his fellow directors as the reason for his sudden departure.
But the Owls answered manager Brian Laws’ calls to shut out all the off-the-field turmoil to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to six matches.
Simon Davey’s multi-national Barnsley played their part in a pulsating contest that had a Hillsborough crowd of 27,769 on the edge of their seats, particularly in the second half.
Laws’ side shrugged off chants of ‘you’re going bust’ from the Barnsley faithful to comfortably hold their own in the first period against higher-placed opponents, who will count themselves unlucky not to take a point with them back up the M1.
Owls winger Jermaine Johnson saw his vicious early shot deflected for a corner, while visiting goalkeeper Heinz Muller did well to hold another spinning rebound just under his crossbar.
But Barnsley’s Dennis Souza prompted the game’s first save, with Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant acrobatically tipping the Brazilian defender’s header from Brian Howard’s corner over the woodwork.
Barnsley threatened again soon after when skipper Howard curled a right-foot shot just wide.
The first half developed into classic derby fare, but the best move of the game, with the impressive Sodje prominent, ended with Steve Watson chipping high and wide and Frank Simek’s arrowed shot was spectacularly saved by Muller.
Laws named the same side that started in Saturday’s goalless draw at QPR.
Barnsley counterpart Sydney Lawyer Simon Davey made no changes either, …continue reading
Source: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Barnsley 0
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