Match Review: Luton 2-2 Wednesday
By Nicholas Rigg
October 10 2005
Wednesday climbed off the bottom of the championship tonight with a hard earned point at Championship high-flyers Luton Town. The Owls went down to another early goal, but managed to revert the scoreline with goals from Graeme Lee and David Graham. Steve Howard equalised with his second for the hosts.
Luton Town 2-2 Wednesday
Date: Friday 24th September
Venue: Kenilworth Road, Luton
Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock was forced to make changes to his team tonight with the news that centre-back Graham Coughlan would not make the game. Graeme Lee replaced him to partner Richard Wood in defence. Chris Eagles also came back in to the side after being cup-tied in midweek.
The game began in disastrous circumstances for the Owls, as they conceded another early goal in the same vein as the West Ham match in midweek. Wednesday were caught napping after just 2 minutes when a quickly taken free-kick by Kevin Nicholls found the head of Steve Howard to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Luton were looking menacing in the early stages and showed why they deserved to be in their current position in the league table. They looked to be in a higher gear to Wednesday and were taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
Wednesday were not out of the game though, and it was Coughlan's replacement Graeme Lee who raised his claim for a first team place by getting the equalising goal. Chris Brunt's freekick somehow found the head of Lee, who directed a superb header in to the top corner.
The hosts continued their dominance though, and could not find a way through David Lucas in the Owls goal. Despite looking nervous on crosses, Lucas was looking unbeatable in goal. His most impressive save came from a header from Steve Robinson which looked goalbound, only for the former Preston goalkeeper to nudge it round the post.
Wednesday did have chances of their own though. Chris Brunts lethal free-kick was saved by Beresford in the Luton goal, only for the rebound to fall to the feet of David Graham, who somehow sent his shot crashing wide from 6-yards.
The second half was much better for the Owls as they took the game to the hosts and didn't look intimidated at the ground where Luton are still unbeaten this season.
Chris Brunt's rocket of a free-kick was turned over the bar by Beresford. Lee Peacock then missed a guilt-edged chance when Brunt fired a cross in to the box for Peacock to neatly chest down, but his finish let him down.
Wednesday's pressure told on 64 minutes when they took the lead through David Graham's first league goal in the blue and white shirt. Lee Peacock's neat flick on put Graham in the clear for him to fire an unstoppable shot in to the bottom corner and send the travelling Owls fans into hysterics.
Despite Wednesday's unexpected control of the second half, the lead was short lived. Man of the match Kevin Nicholls produced the cross for Steve Howard to head home his second of the evening.
This gave the home side the confidence they needed to go forward and threaten the Wednesday goal. David Lucas produced the save of the night from Warren Feeney, as the Northern Ireland hit man somehow saw his header kept out.
David Graham had a chance towards the end of the match which was squandered, but the Owls will be happy with a point at a ground where not many teams will come away with a smile on their face this season.
The game was a great advert for Championship football, and hopefully a great confidence boost for a Wednesday team looking to climb the table in coming weeks. Certainly on this performance they will have a good chance, but maybe after the trip to Crystal Palace on Tuesday night!
My Man Of The Match: David Lucas
Line-Ups:
Luton: Beresford, Edwards, Coyne, Perrett, Davis (Heikkinen 88), Nicholls, Robinson, Brkovic, Morgan (Showunmi 80), Feeney, Howard.
Subs Not Used: Keane, Holmes, Brill.
Goals: Howard 2, 66.
Sheff Wed: Lucas, Simek, Lee, Wood, Hills, Whelan, O'Brien (Rocastle 79), Brunt, Eagles (McGovern 80), Peacock (Bullen 73), Graham.
Subs Not Used: Ross, Corr.
Goals: Lee 14, Graham 64.
Sturrock Says:
"In all the games we've played this season I don't think we've been outfought or outbattled.
"Even the other night against West Ham (in the Carling Cup), 4-2 sounds like a good beating, but we hit the crossbar when it was 3-2.
"The way Luton play they are going to give someone a right hammering soon.
"They attack with eight men including the full-backs so we knew we could get in behind them if we played the ball right.
"It was just disappointing to concede so soon after we had taken the lead, but hopefully our lads will take heart from this."