Referee Mick Russell gets this Yorkshire derby underway and it doesn't take long before the first free kick is awarded. Joel Lynch challenging Gary Madine unfairly and Kieran Lee's free kick is cleared well by Anthony Gerrard. Wednesday concede a free kick themselves when Lewis Buxton is adjudged to have fouled former Leeds United man Adam Clayton. The first meaningful chance on goal comes in the 8th minute when Jeremy Hélan forces Alex Smithies into the save and on the very next attack, the French midfielder breaks into the box and tumbles under a challenge - only to see yellow for apparent simulation. The visitors squander a good chance to take the lead when Rhys McCabe swings in a good corner and the leaping Miguel Llera is penalised and a free kick is awarded Huddersfield's way. As the 15th minute approaches, David Prutton lashes a shot at goal and Smithies does well to save, the resulting corner by McCabe is again waste when Anthony Gardner is judged to had fouled Lynch in the box. With the Owls pressing, the Terriers concede another corner and Llera sees his cross cleared with ease by Clayton. Two yellow cards then follow, one for the home teams Jack Hunt and then one for the away teams number 24, Jeremy Hélan. As everybody in the stadium expects Wednesday to be down to 10 men, unbelievably play resumes! Infuriated by the decision, ex-Barnsley man Adam Hammill sees yellow for a foul on the man that escaped seeing red minutes earlier. 30mins in and the match almost sees the opening goal when Prutton fires an effort that flies over the crossbar before any challenge can be made. After Hunt and Jermaine Beckford both concede free kicks Wednesday again see a shot just miss the target when much improved Kieran Lee sees his shot from outside the box fly past the post. The frustrated Beckford is coming close to seeing yellow after 2 fouls in quick succession on Reda Johnson & Miguel Llera, unable to get past the Owls defenders. As much as Wednesday have had the better of the first half, Huddersfield almost take the lead in the closing minutes when Simon Church sees his controlled shot excellently saved by Chris Kirklands legs after Llera mistimed his clearing header. Before the half-time whistle, R.Johnson sees yellow for a foul on Hunt and Claytons free kick is cleared by Llera, who also clears the resulting Clayton corner as the half time whistle is blown to a chorus of "You don't know what you're doing" and boos.
HT. There's only one talking point isn't there - the Hélan incident. Official word is that Mick Russell wrote Michail Antonio and number 7 in his notebook for the simulation booking, mistaking him for Hélan and booking number 24 (Hélan) for the foul that earned the second booking. An otherwise good half for Wednesday, dominating the opening 45mins. A half time snack of a pork pie washed down with a pint of John Smiths (not advertising the stadium!) sets me up for hopefully a good second half.
Sheffield Wednesday start the second half with a direct approach that sees Antonio flashing a good chance wide of the target barely seconds into the half. The next attack is quickly halted when Gary Madine fouls Hunt deep in the Huddersfield half but with the next move, Madine almost scores when an Antonio cross evades everyone, only for the strikers outstretched leg being inches away from putting the ball into an empty net. When Beckford fouls Prutton in the 53rd minute, Owls fans are surprised to see no further action against the former Leeds striker after all his fouls in the first half seemingly not adding up in the eyes of the referee. When McCabe fouls Church, Claytons free kick is wasted but the follow up sees Kirkland save well from a Keith Southern shot to keep the scores level. In a move to change the course of the game, manager Simon Grayson makes a double substitution that sees Sean Scannell replace Chris Atkinson and James Vaughan replace Simon Church on the hour mark. Claytons corner provides the Terriers with an excellent opportunity, after being nodded on to Beckford - the striker turns and hooks his shot high over the crossbar barely 3 yards out under pressure by Lewis Buxton. Wednesday make their first substitution on the 64th when Mamady Sidibe replaces Madine who has put a good shift in and on the 69th - Town make their final sub which sees Paul Dixon replace Hunt. The second half is not as action packed and fluid as the first and a shot by McCabe from distance follows suit and goes wide of the target. As the 80th minute approaches, substitute Dixon sees yellow for a foul on Hélan and Lleras free kick is cleared by Vaughan. The resulting corner by McCabe is claimed by the much-scouted Smithies. After a Hammill corner is cleared by Llera, Sidibe lashes a left footed shot goal-ward only for the ball to fly wide of the post. With 3mins to go, Antonio is replaced by Jermaine Johnson - a sub expected from the fans much earlier as his electric pace would test the tiring Huddersfield legs and Antonio had been visibly drained by his endless running. Wednesday force a late corner and McCabe crosses to Sidibe who fires a shot that produces the save of the game by Smithies, diving well and keeping the scores level. As close as that was, Huddersfield come as close moments later - from deep inside the box, Vaughan beats Llera and heads goal-ward firing his right-footed shot inches wide to the relief of the travelling 4000 Wednesday fans. Boo's directed at the referee greet the full time whistle.
FT. Huddersfield record their third draw in succession as Wednesday make it 4 clean sheets in a row. The bizarre refereeing mistake spoilt the game as every tackle then resulted in a free-kick and any momentum was lost. Before the match a point would had been gratefully received by SWFC fans but after the performance it warranted all 3. The away fans kept up the noise for most of the match, leaving the home fans weirdly muted apart from the occasional claim.
Attendance: 17,694 (4000 Owls)
Owls Man of the Match: Lewis Buxton (plenty to choose from a solid display)
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