The match gets underway with Gary Madine and Chris Line at the kick-off and it doesn't take long for the first shot to be registered. Three minutes in and after a scramble in the Barnsley box, Michail Antonio wriggles free and manages a shot from an acute angle, forcing Luke Steele into a save with his legs. In a tense opening to the game, the next chance falls to the Reds. Stephen Dawson whips a ball into the box causing panic among the Wednesday back line, Miguel Llera missing his header and Craig Davies unable to shape and shoot before Chris Kirkland claims the loose ball. With the bit between their teeth, Barnsley keep attacking and Davies sees a 7th minute shot from outside the box fly high and wide before Dawson rasps a 30 yard drive to sting Kirklands hands, who palms it to safety. Tomasz Cywka is eager to impress having been out of the Reds' setup but his eagerness results in 4 free kicks against him in just 2 minutes. The latter of these sees Lines drop a ball into the box and Madines header deflects off of Marcus Tudgay but Stuart Attwell gives a Barnsley goal kick instead of the corner. The 14th minute sees the first booking, a yellow card for Stephen Foster for a 2-footed lunge on Madine out on the throw-in line. The defender is lucky not to see a red card there and will be relieved its just a yellow. After Martin Cranie is lucky not to see yellow for a foul on O'Grady, Barnsley attack and Davies fires a shot from just inside the box, only for Anthony Gardner to block for a corner which is defended well. The opening 20mins has seen the home side have the share of possession but not really threaten and Wednesday making more of their chances on the ball but finding the defence in a solid mood. On the 23rd minute Barnsley waste a gifted chance when a cheap corner is conceded but Akos Buszaky lifts his cross over the head of a packed box to the frustration of the home bench and stands. A chant of "Feed the Dingles - let them know its Christmas time" bellows from the away stands just as Barnsley attack and a tidy move down the right sees Dawsons cross cleared by a flying Llera to safety. Cywka has a chance to get the Tykes fans back on his side when he finds space in a good position but lashes his shot tamely wide, well wide. The momentum is definitely with the home side and in the 31st minute, Davies comes in from the left and fires a shot only to see Llera block his effort. The next attack by the Reds sees Buszaky drop a free kick into the box but harmlessly into the grateful arms of Kirkland with no attackers pressuring. The deadlock is broken on the 34th minute when Lewis Buxton lifts a cross into the box and the flailing Steele cannot claim under pressure by Madine - leaving Chris O'Grady to sweep home a low driven shot past 2 defenders. Further replays show Madine and Steele colliding in what usually is given as 'impeding the goalkeeper' but controversial referee Attwell allows the goal. Not to dwell on the decision, Barnsley are quick to attack and a Scott Golbourne cross is met by ex-Owl Tudgay who can only flash his header inches over the bar. On the 41st minute, Llera concedes a sloppy free-kick on the halfway line, but when the ball is put in by Jonathan Greening the Owls defend well and clear. Seeing the danger pass, the Wednesday fans in the stands chant "Dingle bells, dingle bells, dingle all the way - oh what fun it is to see when Wednesday win away" in a rare joyous moment of the season. The Owls are ending well and when Cwyka gives possession away to Lines, the midfielder jinks left and fires a tame effort easily saved by Steele. The half comes to a close with both teams closing down well and pressuring the opposition into losing possession. Boo's greet the half time whistle from the home fans, possibly at the teams performance against their rivals, possibly at the controversial referee - or more likely a mixture of both.
HT. So far a good defensive display by SWFC but that is in part to Barnsley's incapability to finish their chances. The Tykes are doing well to mark Antonio out of the game knowing he is a game changer. Tudgay is finding space and is always a danger but I'm confident the back line can deal with that. A half time snack of a cup of tea with pie (steak & onion) and peas sees me right!
The second half gets underway and Wednesday quickly gain possession - almost taking advantage as a 30 yard Michail Antonio drive is well saved and held by Steele. With barely 2 minutes passed of the second half, Keith Hill replaces Buszaky who in a diva-moment, throws a water bottle to the floor and storms to the tunnel. Barnsley look to equalise on the 48th minute when Davies again tries a long-range effort which goes harmlessly wide. The striker is a dangerous threat and gets another chance moments later. Cywka is blocked en-route to goal by Gardner on the edge of the box and a pile-driver by Davies goes through the wall but is blocked by the feet of Kirkland. The squirming ball spins towards goal but before Tudgay can tap home, Llera belts the ball clear from on the line. David Perkins, the replacement for Buszaky, is lively and a welcome returnee from injury - full of running causing the Wednesday midfield problems and on the 54th minute Barnsley are almost level. Tudgay connects with Cwykas cross after a splitting pass by Perkins and heads into the centre if the box, only to realise he is unsupported and Kirkland has claimed. Wednesday counter attack and after brilliant work by Antonio, tricking his way past 2 players, feeds O'Grady - his cross is headed goal ward by Madine but its weak and Steele can claim. Danny Mayor replaces JJ on the 56th minute and the Jamaican limps off. The next 8 minutes sees a tide of Barnsley pressure, Gardner clearing a Greening cross, Hélan clearing a John Stones cross and Kirkland collecting Golbournes cross. The back line looks very strong as Barnsley keep up the pressure, with only Madine upfield keeping the Tykes back 4 company. Chris Lines enters the book and is yellow carded for a foul on substitute Jim O'Brien after stamping down on the ball with both feet off the floor. During pre-season Marlon Harewood was playing for Wednesday, trying to earn a contract. When that didn't materialise and his trial ended, he joined Barnsley - he is brought on in the 65th minute at the same time as Madine is replaced by Rhys McCabe after receiving a knock. On his way off boo's and whistles are directed at the frontman who blows a playful kiss to the Tykes. On the 69th minute, McCabe lifts a ball over the Barnsley back line which just escapes the onrushing Antonio, Steele launches a swift counter attack and Tudgay earns a corner off of Gardner. O'Briens ball in though is poor and Lines clears from the front post but Barnsley keep the pressure up ending when Perkins fires a 30 yard shot inches past Kirklands post. Prutton is the next booking, a yellow for fouling Dawson on the centre-spot. In a sweeping Barnsley attack, the Wednesday midfield is surpassed easily and Golbourne places a low cross between Kirkland and his defenders - but with no attacker in that prime position the keeper can dive onto the ball. Straight up to the other end in a pulsating period of the game and Foster misjudges a bounce in the box, leaving Antonio to draw out the keeper and fire a cross/shot across goal but Barnsley are relieved to see no blue & white shirt there for the open net tap in. It's end to end now and O'Briens centre into a good area is pounced on by Kirkland and the Owls can break. It comes to nothing though as O'Grady sees his cross collected by Steele. The 2nd half possession stats flash up on the 76th and Barnsley have had 69% of the ball - but to no avail. Another controversial decision occurs a minute later as O'Brien comes across Antonios run and flattens the winger but the referee awards a Barnsley free kick to the amazement of almost everyone. Harewood has a point to prove against Dave Jones and in the 79th minute he has his chance, instead firing his shot wide right of the target after wriggling free of Hélan. The Tykes force another 'nearly moment' when Tudgay fires a dangerous ball across the penalty area but again there is no support and Wednesday see out the pressure and when O'Briens corner is again defended by Llera and the cross back in is headed by Tudgay at Kirkland, Reds fans will be wondering how they haven't scored. That wastefulness is almost compounded in the 81st when young star Stones tries a turn on the edge of his own box but gets tackled by McCabe - only for Foster to help Steele collect the ball and its a let off for Barnsley. The action packed second half is only missing a goal and Harewood comes the closest when Tudgay heads him through on goal but the striker blasts his shot straight at Kirklands legs under pressure from Gardner. O'Briens corner is met by Tudgay who's header beats Kirkland, only to see David Prutton on the line heading clear. Another chance comes Barnsley's way when Davies dive wins a free kick just outside the box and O'Briens centre is met by Llera just in front of Tudgay as "Come on you Reds" rings around the far from full Oakwell stadium. Not one to shy away from a long range shot, Davies sees his 25 yard shot easily saved by Kirkland as the clock hits the 89th minute. Mamady Sidibe replaces Lines moments before Davies sees a shot blocked by Llera and Dawsons ball back in is met by Harewood, hooking the ball over Kirkland brilliantly but it drops inches wide. As the home team rally to claim a point, Davies sees a shot blocked by Gardner again and O'Brien sees the resulting corner cleared by Llera. With 5mins of added time coming to a close Davies sees yellow for chasing through but clattering into Kirkland (he was entitled to go for it) and Llera talks his way into the book (again!) by confronting Davies and going head to head with the forward. The full time whistle is greeted by a massive away end cheer and a series if home fan boos - Wednesday come away with the points and bragging rights.
FT. WHEW! What a defensive performance by Wednesday. A job well done. Away from home, against a rival, both in relegation zone - that's a good result for SWFC. Barnsley will feel aggrieved at the goal but more so at their lack of a finisher, having 13 shots on target. Both teams are still in a lot of trouble and are in for a long, hard season.
Attendance: 12,484
Owls Man of the Match: Gardner/Kirkland (Llera would be in contention too but for that needless yellow - harsh!)
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