Football: Wednesday want weightier response to Wilson's entreaties
Sunderland 1 Sheffield Wednesday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THERE WAS not a lot that Danny Wilson could have said. It is points that Sheffield Wednesday need, not prattle.
Their plight, at the foot of the Premiership, speaks for itself. And, in any case, the injury time action at the Stadium of Light on Saturday spoke louder than any words of wisdom Wilson might have delivered had he chosen to accept his invitation to the press room.
When Danny Sonner rose to head Wim Jonk's left-wing corner, with 90 minutes on the clock, it seemed Wednesday and their manager were about to be rewarded for an afternoon of vastly improved endeavour back in the North-east. When the ball rebounded off Thomas Sorensen's crossbar, however, the nett result was no different from the 8-0 slaughter at Newcastle the previous Sunday.
Indeed, the blow was just as hard to take - as the anguished Wilson, head buried in hands at pitch-side, reflected. For 91 minutes the Wednesday manager had toiled away as his team's 12th man, constantly cajoling from the touchline.
Wilson has been this way before, of course - only Barnsley, the season before last, had six points after their opening nine matches, not one, and possessed a collective fighting spirit Wednesday will have to find to give themselves a survival chance.
For 45 minutes on Saturday they were the better side. But then Peter Reid replaced Kevin Ball with Alex Rae and Sunderland found the attacking midfield momentum that ultimately carried them to victory.
Within five minutes, Rae had released Nicky Summerbee on the right and Stefan Schwarz had found the back of the Wednesday net with a sweeping low volley. Sonner was no longer the game's influential figure, though he did break through to force a fine save from Sorensen before rattling his cross-bar.
"I felt for Danny Wilson last Sunday," Reid said. "But, hand on heart, I can't say I felt much for him today. We had our own battle to fight."
And Reid's men are making a habit of emerging victorious. Saturday's success was their third in succession in the top division, a feat last achieved by Sunderland back in March 1983.
Goal: Schwarz (50) 1-0.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Sorensen; Makin, Butler, Bould, Gray; Summerbee, Ball (Rae h-t), McCann, Schwarz; Phillips, Quinn (Dichio 86). Substitutes not used: Marriott, Fredgard, Williams.
Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Srnicek; Nolan, Thome, Walker, Briscoe; Donnelly (Sibon 84), Alexandersson, Sonner, Rudi (Jonk 62); Booth, De Bilde (Cresswell 62). Substitutes not used: Pressman, Haslam
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).
Booking: Sheffield Wednesday: D Bilde.
Man of the match: Sonner.
Attendance: 41,132.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments