By Nicholas Rigg
November 6 2005

Wednesday showed their fighting spirit and came from a goal down against Derby County to beat the Rams 2-1 at Hillsborough. Marcis Tudgay had put the visitors ahead before goals from Chris Brunt and David Graham gave the Owls victory. The win sees Wednesday move to 16th in the Championship table.

Wednesday 2-1 Derby

Date:  Saturday 5th November

Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield

Wednesday showed their fighting spirit as they came from a goal behind to record a 2-1 victory over Derby County at Hillsborough.

Marcus Tudgay put the visitors in front in a dire first half for the hosts, but Chris Brunt and David Graham both scored within quick succession of each other to give the Owls a vital win which sees them leap-frog Derby and move away from the relegation zone.

Nicky Weaver was thrown in to the think of the action following his signing on Friday afternoon on-loan from Manchester City. David Lucas will be out for up to four weeks, and Weaver only met his new team-mates just two hours before kick-off. Chris Eagles returned to the starting eleven after being rested at the midweek game with Reading. Richie Partridge dropped to the bench. John Hills passed a late fitness test.

Derby boss Phil Brown recalled Lee Camp in goal in place of Kevin Poole. Jeff Kenna also returned to captain the Rams. Wednesday targets Dexter Blackstock and Marcus Tudgay led the attack.

Wednesday failed to move in to second gear until the second half, and it was the visitors that produced the better football, and the better chances. Paul Sturrock later said that Derby were the best team to have visited Hillsborough this year, and it was Dexter Blackstock who nearly gave the visitors the lead early on when he steered his shot past Nicky Weaver, only to see his shot hit the post and rebound to safety.

Blackstock had another chance just moments later when fellow loanee Peter Whittingham crossed low in to the Wednesday box, but his shot was well blocked by Weaver, who was making an impressive debut for the team he supported as a boy.

Derby's set pieces were giving Wednesday all sorts of problems, as should be expected with a player such of Inigo Idiakez standards. Idiakez came close with a free-kick early on, which was deflected over the bar. His pacey inswinging corners were also causing havoc in the Wednesday six-yard area. One nearly went straight in the back of the net only for Weaver to tip it over the bar.

It wasn't all one-way traffic though, as the pacey Chris Eagles put Derby on the back foot on more than one occasion with his swift counter attacks. One saw Lee Peacock with a good opportunity in front of goal, but the ex-Bristol City man opted to pass it to the on-loan Gaby Agbonlahor who mis-judged the pass.

Derby were looking much the better side though, and would have been unlucky to go in to the half time break at 0-0. That wasn't to be the case though, as Peter Whittingham crossed for Marcus Tudgay to head the visitors in to the lead just minutes before half time.

The second half began in much the same manner as the first had finished - with Derby controlling the play. Morten Bisgaard had a goal disallowed for offside.

Paul Sturrock was forced to make changes just after the hour mark as Wednesday struggled to break down the Derby defence, who seemed happy to sit on a 1-0 lead. Burton O'Brien came on for Craig Rocastle, and David Graham replaced Gaby Agbonlahor.

The move triggered an outstanding Wednesday fightback. With Brunt in the middle of the park, and O'Brien on the left, it gave Wednesday that much needed creativity in the middle that they had been lacking.

The equaliser came from a Lee Peacock cross down the right. Burton O'Brien was the target, and his header back towards goal found the feet of Chris Brunt, who somehow scrambled the ball home to get his fifth goal of the season and become the Owls top scorer.

Just minutes later, Wednesday had the chance to take the lead after Chris Eagles' mazy run in the Derby penalty box. The Man Utd loanee ran past two defenders and had the chance to have a shot at goal, but optedto run past a further defender who seemed to leave a trailing leg and felled Eagles. The referee was having none of it though, and cautioned Eagles for diving.

Wednesday didn't squander their next chance though, as Frankie Simek's long ball forward was flicked on by Graeme Lee towards Graham, who was unmarked just 6-yards out and calmly slotted the ball home.

The win means Wednesday leapfrog Derby in the table and find themselves in 16th place. Paul Sturrock emphasised the importance of the upcoming home games, and the Scot will be looking to continue the Owls progression with the game in hand against Cardiff on Wednesday night.

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My Man Of The Match:  Chris Brunt

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Wednesday:

Weaver, Lee, Hills, Simek, Wood, Whelan, Brunt, Eagles, Rocastle (O'Brien 59), Agbonlahor (Graham 66), Peacock (Bullen 87).
Subs Not Used: Heckingbottom, Partridge.

Derby County:

Camp, Kenna, Whittingham, Michael Johnson, Thome, Bisgaard (Peschisolido 75), Seth Johnson, Tudgay, Johnnie Jackson (Thirlwell 75), Idiakez, Blackstock.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Davies, Bolder.

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Paul Sturrock told the official SWFC site:

''It got a wee bit noisy at half time. It could have been well, well away from us - it was like the alamo. John Blackley started on them and they got my tongue at the end but they responded properly.''

''They came back out, the centre-halves won their headers and tackles and, all of a sudden, we're on the front foot. Plus, all of a sudden we livened up our crowd.''

 

Paul Sturrock told BBC Sport:

"Nicky has come in and done a fantastic job, making three or four quality saves.

"He's a quality goalie who had a fantastic season when Manchester City got promoted. He's a Sheffield boy, a Wednesday fan and wanted to come.

"But Derby are the best team who have come here. They battered us early on."

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Attendance:  26,344

Referee:   M Fletcher (5/10)