Yorkshire | Reminder of Sheffield Wednesday’s on the pitch issues
Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Oxford United
Sheffield Wednesday’s off-field turmoil was matched by fresh concerns on the pitch as Oxford United held firm to secure a narrow win.
Author | James Whaling
Stadium | Hillsborough
Just a day after entering administration and receiving a 12-point deduction that plunged them into deeper trouble, the Championship’s bottom club suffered a fourth successive defeat.
A bumper crowd of 27,261, their biggest of the season, could not inspire a revival, with Wednesday falling to a sixth loss in seven home games at a ground where victories have been desperately scarce since New Year’s Day.
Oxford struck twice before the break, Will Lankshear opening the scoring before Cameron Brannagan curled in a free-kick to strengthen the visitors’ position in the table. The U’s have now won two of their last three outings, edging four points clear of the relegation zone and climbing to 19th.
Sean Fusire pulled one back shortly after half-time and Jamal Lowe passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to level, but Wednesday remain marooned on minus six points and now sit 16 adrift of safety.
A proud day despite the defeat
The turmoil of Friday’s administration announcement brought with it an unexpected lift in mood at Sheffield Wednesday, with supporters heartened by the prospect of a future beyond Dejphon Chansiri’s troubled tenure.
Protests had escalated in recent weeks, culminating in a widespread boycott of the defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday night. This time, fans returned in significant numbers, filling kiosks and the club shop as they embraced a sense of renewed hope in the stands.
Yet the first half served as a stark reminder of why the team were rooted to the foot of the table even before the 12-point deduction. Filip Krastev drew a smart stop from Joe Lumley early on, but the goalkeeper was soon beaten when Will Lankshear steered a header home from Cameron Brannagan’s delivery. Bailey Cadamarteri tested Jamie Cumming at the other end, though Wednesday looked vulnerable, and Brannagan capitalised with a superb second, drilling a low free-kick into the corner from at least 30 yards.
Henrik Pedersen’s squad may be depleted, but their resolve did not waver. Seven minutes after the interval they were handed a lifeline as Sean Fusire pounced on a loose ball to score his first senior goal following a Harry Amass cross that Oxford failed to clear.
Wednesday pressed for an equaliser. Cadamarteri only just failed to connect with Svante Ingelsson’s inviting cross and Amass forced Cumming into action again. The best opportunity fell to Jamal Lowe shortly before stoppage time, the ball dropping perfectly inside the area. His volley, however, was fired straight at the keeper with the Kop poised to erupt, denying the hosts the dramatic finale that would have capped an unforgettable week in South Yorkshire.
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