Seasiders sink Owls
The Owls gave it everything they had at the Seaside on Saturday but fell short with a 2-0 defeat to Blackpool.
The game got off to the worst possible start for Wednesday as ex-Stoke hitman Ricardo Fuller registered the first goal of the afternoon after just six minutes.
Despite that early blow, Wednesday responded well and looked dangerous in the final third – albeit without managing to notch a goal the forward play had deserved.
But any hopes of salvaging something from the game were gone 15 minutes from time when Dan Gosling popped up in the area to cleverly place the ball home, in off the upright.
With Wednesday heading into the afternoon four points shy of safety, the Owls were in need of a big performance on a tough trip to Blackpool.
The visitors started on the front foot as twin Miguel Llera free kicks gave Blackpool cause for concern – during which captain Gary MacKenzie was cautioned for the use of an arm in the wall.
But Blackpool’s first attack brought about first blood when Fuller neatly tucked home Tom Ince’s corner at the near post to stun Wednesday.
The Owls responded well to that setback and had a good chance to draw level when Connor Wickham pulled back for Jeremy Helan, who miscued and side-footed wide.
Sunderland loanee Wickham had looked lively in the early exchanges and was denied by Matt Gilks, who made a good stop from the forward’s powerful strike.
As the first half drew to its conclusion, Wednesday could rightly feel frustrated having created the better chances and controlled large parts of the first 45.
Blackpool, though, almost doubled their lead via the same route as the first goal when Ince’s dangerous corner picked out Neal Bishop, whose header was hooked off the line.
Jose Semedo went close at the other end, heading wide from Roger Johnson’s deep cross before the referee called time on an eventful opening period.
The second half began as the first concluded with the Owls in the ascendancy and enjoying plenty of possession.
Excellent chest control and ball out wide from Wickham released Jacques Maghoma on the right, who charged forward and fired over the bar before Ince brought a fine low stop from Damian Martinez moments later.
The on loan Arsenal custodian had to remain alert to parry over from MacKenzie’s header at the back post and once again from Ince in the next attack, whose angled drive from the left was smartly kept out and cleared away from danger.
But there was nothing Martinez could do in the 73rd minute as the Seasiders effectively wrapped up the game.
Tyler Blackett raced into the area and played a low ball across goal for Gosling to apply the finishing touch, side-footing in off the post.
Substitute Jermaine Johnson saw his cross cum shot tipped over by Gilks, before MacKenzie's header crashed back off the bar, as Wednesday were left with nothing for their efforts on a cold afternoon in Blackpool.
Blackpool: Gilks, Gosling, MacKenzie, Broadfoot, Ince (Zeegelaar 90), Bishop, Dobbie (Martinez 58), Basham, Osbourne, Fuller (Davies 80), Blackett
Owls: Martinez, Buxton (Palmer 77), Roger Johnson, Llera, Mattock (Jermaine Johnson 66), Maghoma, Coke (Fryatt 74), Semedo, Olofinjana, Helan, Wickham