With Scottish international Rhys McCabe still sidelined by injury, Paul Corry continued in midfield after a sparkling debut in his last outing, behind Gary Madine as lone striker in the absence of injured Jay Bothroyd. With only 2 minutes on the clock the visitors force an early corner as Scott Dann cuts out a cross with Madine lurking near by. The striker meets Corrys corner but can only head over the bar. Blackburn create the next attack and only a slide tackle from the in-form Lewis Buxton stops a chance on goal. The resulting throw-in creates a chance and Jason Lowe fires a shot wide. With barely 5 minutes on the referees watch, David Dunn breaks and is allowed space at the byline - his cross is met by academy product Grant Hanley who side foots the ball past Chris Kirkland for the opening goal. From the restart Wednesday attack and a Corry shot flies just wide after a good Buxton cross. In the Owls last outing (against Leeds United), an ex-Blade came back to haunt Wednesday and it was almost that case again on the ninth minute, Colin Kazim-Richards firing a volley just past the post after good attacking work by Gael Givet. Blackburn have started to build the pressure and a long searching ball up to Martin Olssen is cut out by Buxton for a corner. The ball in is dangerous and Wednesday scramble it clear, the ball back in sees Givet glance a header just wide. Good midfield passing triangles by Rovers create the home sides next chance as a hopeful long shot by Kazim-Richards deflects for a corner. Dunns corner is met by Dickson Etuhu and his header flies over Kirklands goal. After Jordan Rhodes displays silky dribbling skills and fires a shot skyward, Kazim-Richards follows suit and launches a half-volley over the bar in a good spell of pressure by Blackburn as Wednesday seem to have lost their way. On the 22nd minute the Owls have a penalty appeal waved away as Madine hits the deck following good midfield play, if that was given it would have been harsh. The away side are back in the game now and good work out wide between Jermaine Johnson & Buxton seems to be the best outlet, only for a couple of overhit crosses by the Jamaican preventing good chances. Wednesdays next best chance comes after 30mins when Michail Antonio is felled after good work by Johnson - twisting and turning his defender and feeding to Antonio. The 20 yard free kick is hit by Miguel Llera, flying inches wide of Paul Robinsons goal. Only a couple of minutes later and Antonio controls a pass on his chest, swivels and fires a powerful drive that whistles past the post. The 38th minute sees Ruben Rochina (minutes earlier replaced Dunn) take a long shot that Kirkland does well to save, with Rhodes shaping to finish the follow up - Martin Taylor throws his body on the line & blocks the shot bravely. This galvanises the Owls who quickly break and only a foul on Daniel Jones just outside the box stops the attack - but the referee doesn't award the free kick! In a strange minute, Blackburn counter and Llera makes a perfectly timed tackle but is yellow carded by the referee. With the Owls gaining momentum, Rovers try to slow the play with possession and close the half out. Jose Semedo dispossess Rochina and releases Johnson, only for him to be fouled for the third time in 2mins - this time the ref awards the free kick. The long free kick is met by Llera but he turns his shot wide. In a quick counter attack, Rhodes releases Kazim-Richards who isn't closed down quickly, allowing the loanee to fire a shot just wide.
HT. SWFC have done well apart from a 10 minute spell and need to create more chances - when the ball is out into the box the Owls are always first to the ball. Half time snack is a bag of Hula Hoops & an Aero Biscuit bar (so nice!)
The second half starts with Wednesday on the front foot. Etuhu fouls Antonio and a free kick is awarded. Corry flights a brilliant ball into the box and Llera has a free header but can only nod wide. Kazim-Richards picks up a booking for leaving a foot in on Llera and Kirkland lumps the ball forward. Ross Barkley (who extended his youth loan from Everton on a weekly basis) meets the ball and fires a left footed effort wide. All the noise in Ewood Park comes from the away stand as the Owls are on top and the noise is almost multiplied but for Dann expertly timing his challenge before Madine can pounce in the box following a Barkley delivery. Danns clearance sets Blackburn on the attack and Olsson tries to com the referee with a dive in the box. Nothing given. Ex-England keeper Robinson is having a solid game and punches away a Barkley corner, Jones' ball back in is also cleared which leads to a quick counter. Rochinas powerful drive clips a defender and Kirkland does superbly to save with his legs and Taylor clears the danger. Ewood Park is rocking as both sets of fans are at full volume. Wednesday turn up the pressure on the hour mark as an Antonio cross is nodded on goal-wards by Llera and Dann clears. Then a left footed drive across goal by Buxton follows an Antonio turn leaving Etuhu in his wake. Good linkup play between Corry and Jones sees the young Irishman fire a cross in that's met by Robinson, keeping the pressure on the Blackburn end. Johnson then has a fine chance to equalise when he fires a shot straight at Rovers keeper, either side of him and Wednesday would be level such was the power. On the 70th minute Etuhu gives away a free kick and Barkleys 40yard ball upfield strikes Kazim-Richards hand. The referee awards the free kick- now 25 yard out, giving the Blackburn player a yellow card. Llera fires it straight into the wall and JJ's ball back in is cleared by Givet. One transfer signing that sticks out in the pre-season is the signing of Barcelona B player, Rodri. Not getting much game time is unexpected but he replaces Corry. A direct attack by Wednesday is halted by a handball by Kazim-Richards (should be a 2nd yellow) but the referee doesn't blow the whistle. Rochina does well in the 77th minute and hold off 3 Wednesday players hustling for the ball, he feeds the ball to Etuhu but Jones intercepts before Orr can release a shot at goal. Rochina must have covered every blade of grass with an energetic display. Llera concedes an 81st minute free kick by fouling Rhodes but makes amends with a goal line clearance after Morten Gamst-Pederson fired his effort in. 4minutes later and Robinson is again called into action, diving low to stop a goal-ward effort by Johnson. Only a minute later and Blackburn should have their 2nd goal when Rochina bursts through only for Kirkland to save and keep Wednesday in the game. Chris O'Grady replaces Jones in the final 2mins. Blackburn see away any pressure well and are happy to run the clock down at every chance to claim all 3 points at the final whistle.
FT. A good second half by SWFC but we don't win points on good performances. In desperate need of a goal scorer.
Attendance: 13,782
Owls Man of Match: Barkley
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