In The News: Wed 21st September
By Nicholas Rigg
September 21 2005
In this section of Wednesday Wonderland we take a look at how Wednesday are hitting the news: either in newspapers, or on other media websites. These articles are totally independant from Wednesday Wonderland and are not the views expressed by our site.
from Sheffield Star:
Goals by Graham Coughlan and David Graham in a two-minute burst near the end roused the crowd.
And fans were getting really excited when the Owls went close to drawing level through Graham and substitute John Hills.
But the rally was ended eight minutes after it began, by the last of four ruthlessly-taken Hammers goals, the clincher coming from sub David Bellion in the 84th minute.
Defeat for the Championship's bottom club against a Premiership side - even one fielding a below-strength line-up - will have surprised no-one, and nor did Wednesday's familiar effort and spirit.
Ultimately they just had to bow to superior firepower, and they were up against it from the moment they fell behind, after one minute and 14 seconds of the match.
Paul Sturrock made five changes to the side that started against Millwall. Barry Corr made his full debut, Lee Bullen (at left back) and Jon Paul McGovern were handed welcome first starts of the season, and there were recalls for Craig Rocastle and Maurice Ross. Burton O'Brien, Lee Peacock and John Hills switched to the bench, Chris Eagles was ineligible, and Frankie Simek was rested.
But there was no magical change of fortune for the Owls as they fell victim to an all-too-simple goal and a piece of deadly, Premiership-style finishing.
A wonderfully struck but off-target volley by Chris Brunt stirred home fans but left the Hammers unruffled.
Wednesday could manage little real threat going forward in the early stages, and were kept alive in the 23rd minute by a flying save by Lucas from a Zamora header.
It was better by the Owls three minutes later when McGovern's nimble feet played a sharp ball out wide to David Graham, then seconds later set up a 22-yard chance by Glenn Whelan which was sidefooted over the bar.
This was the point when Wednesday began to get some rhythm and momentum going, though without doing West Ham any deep damage.
Shaka Hislop thwarted Graham and Corr with competent saves, but improved on those in the first minute of the second half when he stretched backwards to touch a Graham effort over the bar after the striker cut in from the right and struck a decent effort with his left foot from the edge of the box
The game looked as if it might be over once West Ham made it 2-0 in the 54th minute.
Pressure came on Wednesday after Ross needlessly headed the ball out for a corner on the left. This led to another corner on the right, from which Hammers captain and midfielder Christian Dailly outjumped Bullen and powered a terrific header into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Zamora rubbed it in with a top-class strike. A loose ball came out to him, outside the left corner of the box a good 25 yards from goal, and the ex-Brighton star showed precision and vision in volleying over Lucas.
Typically, Wednesday never gave up, and subs were sent on to freshen up their challenge. When Coughlan headed home a Chris Brunt corner in the 76th minute, it appeared to be a mere consolation. But the crowd erupted when, a minute later, Graham showed skill and determination to make himself shooting space on the edge of the box and smacked a fine effort into the keeper's bottom left-hand corner.
The late drama increased as Graham sneaked around the back of the Hammers defence for a close-range shot with which he clipped the top of the bar.
Then Hills, on as a sub on the left side of midfield, with Brunt switching to the right, crashed in a 30-yard effort which was saved with difficulty by Hislop.
Anti-climax was caused by Bellion's artful control of a through ball and the way he checked back on his right foot to lash a vicious shot into the bottom corner.
Wednesday were out - by the same score that they beat Stockport in the first round.
from Sky Sports Online:
Sheffield Wednesday have failed with their bid to land Nathan Tyson.
The Owls have lodged two bids which they describe as substantial, with a view to sealing a January move for Tyson.
The 23-year-old former Reading man has not stopped scoring for Wycombe since joining them in January 2004.
Now Tyson is attracting a great deal of interest and he has already confirmed his desire to quit the club once the transfer window has opened again in January.
Wednesday were looking to jump the gun and beat a host of clubs to Tyson's signature by securing a deal some three months in advance of the window opening.
However, The Chairboys have shunned both offers from the Championship club as they look to keep hold of their prized asset.
from Sky Sports Online:
Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock has rejected the opportunity to succeed Bobby Williamson at former club Plymouth.
Sturrock oversaw a successful four-year tenure at Home Park before accepting an offer to manage Southampton in March 2004, however the Scot is focussed only on the job in hand at Wednesday.
"It is important I say something about the Plymouth rumour," Sturrock said.
"There is a huge job to be done at this club and I am here for the long haul - as long as the chairman fancies it."
Jocky Scott, has taken caretaker charge of The Pilgrims in the interim search for a full time successor and Plymouth chairman Paul Stapleton has praised the former assistant's stewardship.
"I can't have enough praise for Jocky because under the previous manager he hid his light under a bushel as far as the board are concerned," Stapleton said.
"I appreciate that. I didn't really know the man and his ability.
"If Jocky goes back up to Scotland he will have done a great job for us by stepping into the breach."
from BBC Sport:
Ipswich manager Joe Royle is interested in signing Adam Proudlock after his contract was terminated by Sheffield Wednesday for disciplinary reasons.
Proudlock left Wednesday for what boss Paul Sturrock called "several breaches" of the club's code of conduct.
Royle said: "I remember Adam as a young player at Wolves and he impressed me. I know things have gone a bit awry for him but players can be rehabilitated."
The Ipswich boss is still waiting to hear if another loan deal can go ahead.
But he said he may press ahead with a deal for Proudlock if that move fails to materialise.
"Adam's got something," said Royle. "I am well aware of his ability and his availability after speaking to Wednesday in order to find out his situation.
"He is a free agent but at this moment in time I have not taken my interest any further."