Robins rock struggling Owls
Bristol City mounted a sterling late response to beat Sheffield
Wednesday 3-2 in the battle of the Championship strugglers which
leaves Owls boss Dave Jones clinging on to his job.
Jones, who saw his side come into the game on the back of six
successive defeats, had received a vote of confidence from Milan
Mandaric a fortnight ago, and he looked to be overseeing a home win
until the Robins’ late show.
Wednesday were leading 2-1 with 12 minutes to go thanks to goals
from Miguel Llera and Gary Madine, though Llera’s involvement did
not end there.
The Portuguese defender gave away a penalty to allow Sam Baldock
to equalise at 1-1 and then another six minutes after Madine’s
goal.
Then, just a minute after Baldock had levelled for the second
time from the spot, Albert Adomah curled in a fine 22-yard
free-kick to put Derek McInnes’ side ahead.
The drama was not done there, though, as after Wednesday
appealed for a penalty, Madine slammed home the ball, but referee
Andre Mariner, who had caused Jones much chagrin throughout the
afternoon, ruled out the effort and awarded a free-kick to
City.
And there was no coming back from that for Wednesday, who
slumped to a seventh defeat on the bounce, which Jones will do well
to survive.
The win was City’s third in the last 15 games and keeps them in
touching distance of those teams just above the drop zone.
It had been the perfect start for Wednesday as they went in
front with just two minutes on the clock. After early pressure
Chris Lines curled an inviting corner into the six-yard box for
Llera to meet it with an unstoppable header.
But out of nothing the Robins found themselves level in the 17th
minute when Baldock received the ball into his feet in the penalty
area, he turned Llera and the big centre-half brought him down.
Marriner pointed to the spot and Baldock calmly sent Chris Kirkland
the wrong way.
Wednesday weathered a second-half storm and hit City on the
break to regain the lead in the 78th minute. Johnson broke at pace,
making up yards of ground, and fired a low shot that was too hot
for Heaton to handle and Madine atoned for his earlier misses by
slotting home the rebound from eight yards.
It was harsh on City, but they were back on level terms again
just six minutes later through another Baldock penalty, this time
after Llera had handled.
And two minutes later Adomah curled a superb effort in from a
free-kick to pour the misery on Wednesday, which was made even
worse by the late controversy.