By Nicholas Rigg
October 24 2005

Wednesday failed to hold on to a 1-0 lead for the third game running as Brighton equalised in the second minute of injury time. Lee Peacock put the Owls in front when 'keeper Wayne Henderson spilled Chris Brunt's strike. Colin Kazim-Richards levelled for the visitors two minutes in to stoppage time.  

Wednesday 1-1 Brighton

Date: Monday 24th October

Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield

Wednesday threw away three points in this relegation six pointer as Brighton striker Colin Kazim-Richards levelled a Lee Peacock opener in the second minute of stoppage time.

Wednesday had looked the better team going forward and created a hatful of chances of which Lee Peacock was most guilty of missing. Though it was Peacock who put the Owls in front just after the break after cashing in on a spilled Chris Brunt shot. Wednesday failed to hold on to their 1-0 lead for the thirs game running, and Kazim-Richards equalised in the second minute of injury time.

Wednesday kept the same team that drew with Watford last week. David Graham and Graham Coughlan both passed late fitness tests to be in the starting line-up.

Alexandre Frutos made his full debut for the visitors after midfielder Richard Carpenter was ruled out of action for up to six weeks. Apart from that, the Brighton team remained the same team that beat rivals Crystal Palace last week.

The first half lived up to the 'relegation six pointer' tag in every way, shape, and form. Neither side got hold of the game and were not playing like they would have liked to be playing.

The chances that did arise all came towards the Leppings Lane end where Wednesday were shooting. Lee Peacock was first of all put through on goal by David Graham, only to see his low shot well saved by Henderson is the Seagulls goal. Chris Brunt saw a cross flash in front of goal but no Wednesday man was on the end of it. Shortly after Graham sliced a shot wide of goal from long range.

The visitors did have one opportunity in the first half but David Lucas was equal to it. Seb Carole hit a low swerving shot towards goal and Lucas was able to turn it around the post.

Just before half time Frankie Simek was forced out of the game after suffering concussion. The American looked like he wanted to carry on playing but the Wednesday physio made it clear he was in no fit state to continue and Lee Bullen replaced him at right back.

The second half was more entertaining than the first, and Chris Brunt went on a mazy run down the centre 10 minutes in to the half. His stunning effort was stopped by Wayne Henderson but could only be parried out to the feet of Peacock who made it 1-0 to Wednesday and to score his 100th career league goal, and first at Hillsborough in over a year.

Knowing that a 1-0 lead had not lasted in their previous two outings, Wednesday were looking to extend their lead and nearly did so minutes later. Eagles, Brunt, and Graham were outnumbering the Brighton defence, but Brunt's ball wide to Eagles forced the Man. Utd. loanee wide of goal, and his effort was blocked.

The Seagulls were still looking dangerous with their pacey attack though, and sub Kazim-Richards nearly found an equaliser after being put thorugh on goal, only for Lucas to come racing off his line and block the shot.

Peacock should have made it two minutes later when John Hills was put through after a quickly taken Brunt free-kick. Hills crossed low in the box but the ex-Bristol City man put the shot wide from six-yards out.

The entertainment value then shot as Hillsborough witnessed it's first streaker in years. The young woman came running from the North Stand and was escorted off the pitch by stewards, but not before she had 'cuddled' John Hills and Lee Peacock on her way!

Peacock was then the centre of attention again but for all the wrong reasons as he missed another golden chance to put Wednesday home and dry at 2-0 up. A powerful header forward looped over the Brighton defence and landed at the feet of Peacock, who again sliced his shot wide of goal.

Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock will be hoping he can sign a striker sooner rather than later after another match of missed chances that would have seen Wednesday well clear of the relegation zone. The Owls have climed out of it, but only on goal difference, and face a tough trip to Norwich on Saturday.

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My Man Of The Match:  Chris Eagles

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Wednesday:

Lucas, Simek (Bullen 39), Coughlan, Lee, Hills, Eagles, Whelan, Rocastle, Brunt Peacock, Graham (O'Brien 85). Subs Not Used: Partridge, Corr, Wood.

Brighton:

Henderson, Carole, McShane, Butters, Reid, Frutos (Jarrett 79), Hammond, Oatway, Hart, Robinson (Kazim-Richards 60), Knight. Subs Not Used: Blayney, Nicolas, El-Abd

 

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Paul Sturrock told the official SWFC site:

''We should have taken the sting out of the game and run down the clock.''

''We had the ball in the corner and didn't need to go anywhere but one of them decided to try and finish the game off.''

''In the last three games we've shown panic in running the clock down and it's kicked us in the teeth.''

Paul Sturrock told BBC Sport:

"We have a naivety in our team and we didn't play out the minutes or take the sting out of the game.

"The second-half chances that we missed proved costly and it feels like a loss.

"One or two players are not mentally attuned to closing out games at this level and it's hurt us badly again."

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Attendance:  21,787

Referee:   N Miller (8/10)