Pride Park: Derby County
For a few days now the buzz of the Wednesday fans has been building to today, a trip to Pride Park. News comes in via a Derby County steward at the stadium, that SWFC's travelling contingent of 6000 (yes, you read that right!) is the highest ever away following at Pride Park. Well done those travelling Owls. I am not one of them though, being the armchair fan I am, I'll be tuning in to BBC Radio Sheffield (fm) and listening to the game. Whereas 6000 fans' day started with the relatively short journey South, I had a shorter trip, to the bookies. I had a visit from a good friend (a Barnsley fan) and waited for 3pm..
The first thing I hear on BBC Radio Sheffield is the immense noise coming from the Wednesdayite's. Well done all of you! I have the radio on and Soccer Saturday on mute, a bonus of being an armchair fan. Jermaine Johnson straight from the off takes on the Derby midfield resulting in a low shot saved at the near post, that gets me on the edge of the sofa ready for a goal! Then 8mins in a penalty claim by Derby gets turned down, phew - sit back, it's going to be a long one. Just then the game has to go on mute as Chris Kamara comes onscreen (what can I say, he's hilarious!) but the game is quickly put back on as soon as Kammy goes ... just in time to hear the Derby fans celebrating the opening goal, Tyson. Oh dear. The next 10 mins is very worrying, poor passing, fouls, unable to do anything with the ball. This could be a hiding at this rate, that goal had stunned the Owls and rejuvenated the Rams. Even a Michail Antonio run, dribble and shot fails to raise the mood - a tame effort after a good run. For the first time today I check my accumulator, looking good! Derby are really turning it on now only 20mins in, passing their way through a static Wednesday midfield and defence, coming close but for a Chris Kirkland save & Gardener clearance. As dire as things were on the pitch, a rendition of 'The City is Ours' bellows out of my speakers, raising the spirits - just for Derby to shatter them with a 2nd goal. Only 27mins had passed and Jake Buxton puts the home team comfortably 2-0 up. Time to check Twitter. Oh dear, plenty of swear words and berating of the Owls defence. Other teams fans' (Leeds, Swindon & Stoke) also laying into Wednesday, mocking the 'massive'. Wednesday really are playing as poorly as the scoreline suggests. Derby are on a mission, closing down every player, passing well and attacking with venom - almost getting a third but for another Kirkland save. 32mins in and Kirkland again spares the blushes with a fine save - the man is inspired. Earlier this week I did a quick interview for a Derby blog, predicting a 1-2 away win ... oh dear. Then, finally a breakthrough - an edge of the box wonder strike by O'Grady gives the Owls a glimmer of hope and 6000 away fans raise Pride Park! Then almost immediately Johnson goes on a mazy run but hits the ball off target, the Owls are on the up. The away support sing "We're Sheffield Wednesday and we'll do what we want" - but the referee has other ideas, every tackle resulting in a Derby free kick.
HT analysis: Gardener is a liability, Pecnik isn't used to the English game, no commitment to tackles, poor passing and a poor referee. Plus point is the new signing from Rangers (ish!) McCabe - bright first 45 mins in a SWFC shirt. Now there's time to grab a sandwich and a Crunchie, no mad queues like at the stadium ;)
The 2nd half gets underway with the Owls quick out of the blocks, but Derby are still dangerous with a low shot fantastically saved by Kirkland (there's a theme here!). Only 6mins into the second half and Derby have had 3 corners, they need to kill the game off. As JJ again goes on one of his countless runs the away support is incredible - the noise is fantastic, unfortunately JJ's run bears no fruit, again. Pecnik gets replaced by Gary Madine who hadn't started the game due to a niggle to his knee. A close call where the Rams clear the ball off the line again raises the crowd and JJ keeps battering them with his runs. McCabe is spraying the ball around very well and sets Michail Antonio on his way, who feeds O'Grady - tipped over the bar. The resulting corner ends when Antonio overhits the ball back into the box. As much as JJ is in the game, Madine isn't - nothing of mention for the 'Goal Machine'. The noise again is incredible, it sounds as though we are at home, great effort to raise the team by the fans. GOAL!! Madiiii... offside! Everything is Wednesday now, it's all one way except for the free kicks the referee keeps giving to Derby! The home team has gone ultra defensive now and has taken Tyson (FWD) off for a defensive midfielder, they want to keep this at 2-1. The fans group Wednesdayite tweet (@Wednesdayite) "The ball boys are even time wasting - running away from the ball out of play!". Twitter is buzzing with Owls fans blasting the negative Derby tactics when suddenly ... GOAL!! O'Grady again! Oh, ruled out by the referee. This is getting frustrating, even more so when a handball in the box doesn't reward the Owls with a penalty. The yellow wave (new away kit!) keeps hammering the Derby defence - off the line, scrambled away, mix up in the box! Still Derby hang on. Until the 90th minute that is! Big Reda Johnson scores the equaliser sending 6000 away fans into raptures and this armchair fan bouncing in his living room!! At the final whistle a few Derby boos are heard before the deafening noise of 'Wednesday! Wednesday!' ring through the speakers.
Job well done boys, UTO!
Attendance: 27,437
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