It's been a long time coming but last night at an atmospheric Hillsborough, the Reds FINALLY broke the awful hoodoo that has been hanging over them since 1983 by beating
Simon Davey started with new boys Michael Mifsud and Andranik Teymourian and brought Stephen Foster, Hugo Colace and Daniel Bogdanovic back into the side as he aimed to end the dire run the Reds found themselves in before last night.
Both sides started rather brightly, Foster getting in a great block from a Tudgay shot and Andranik and Anderson firing over before the half way point in the first half.
A word now on the referee and linesman on the left hand side from where Reds fans were sitting. Such is inconsistency in refereeing these days, this one was no different. Firstly the linesman, who must have had about forty eyes, saw Heinz Muller throw the ball out and decided he was outside his area when he threw it.
Now surely, this is a goalkeeper handling the ball outside his area and punishable with a straight red. No card was given and I'm glad it wasn't but this is the problem with referees these days. This, joined by several bizarre decisions didn't really endear the two mentioned officials to the travelling masses.
Then, something happened. Not sure what, but the referee actually started giving things our way and it was on 38 minutes when
This was a fine tactic, leaving three men up from the corner.
This was pretty much it for a first half which saw the Reds go in 1-0 up and deservedly so. So far, impressive performances by the two new boys. Mifsud caused problems with his pace and willingness to chase absolutely anything and Andranik looked cultured in the centre of the park.
I commented at half time that it would be just like Donny away in which the Reds sat back and invited pressure onto them and unfortunately, that is exactly what happened, however they did get a bit further forward than they did back in October.
Muller's punching caused a lot of nervous moments for the
Mifsud's pace and terrier-like attributes made him a nuisance in the second half but I can't finish this report without commenting on a couple of lets say… over-elaborate falls. He was brought down by Wood in the final third but threw his arms up but made it look too theatrical and got nothing. Another dive caused him to be booked.
Jermaine Johnson was causing strife for Bobby Hassell and he had a shot beaten away by Muller before he was withdrawn, much to the delight of many Reds fans. Wednesday never looked as dangerous after that.
Well, except for that heart stopping moment about four minutes from time that put about thirty years onto my life. Marcus Tudgay was played in by O'Connor and he lobbed the advancing Muller but as the ball travelled towards the net, out of absolutely nowhere, Bobby Hassell dived in and cleared off the line with his right shin which prompted the loudest chant of the night "THERE'S ONLY ONE BOBBY HASSELL!"
After that scare, the Reds, now being spearheaded by Jon Macken, who replaced Bogdanovic and Adam Hammill who came on for Andranik and displayed some neat touches and looked very sharp, kept the ball in the Wednesday half.
The final whistle blew after a couple of gut wrenching long balls into the
Player Ratings
Heinz Muller - Didn't have much to do but what he did have to do, he did well. Punching was good and handling top notch. 7
Bobby Hassell - Unspectacular again, went about his business quietly but that clearance off the line was something else. 8
Stephen Foster - Great to see Captain Fantastic back. Won most of his headers and didn't look troubled by their front two. 7
Darren Moore - Immense. Won everything and really fought for the cause. 8
Marciano Van Homoet - Got forward quite well but he can't defend. Few needless fouls as well. Booked. 5
Jamal Campbell-Ryce - Looked really lively wherever he played. Becoming a real utility man, and capped the night with a stunning goal. Needlessly booked and will miss the QPR home game. 8
Andranik Teymourian - Quite impressive, passed well and likes a tackle. 7
Hugo Colace - Great to see him back, won headers and got stuck in as per. Real steal on a free. Booked. 8
Anderson de Silva - SHOOT ANDERSON! Tried to pass to Mifsud too often. Other than that, it's the
Daniel Bogdanovic - Didn't really do much, can't remember him winning a header but set up JCR's winner so that's something. Subbed. 6
Michael Mifsud - Worked his socks off and was really unlucky not to get a lot of decisions his way. Did a couple of unnecessary dives but was quite impressed. Booked. 7
Subs
Jon Macken (for Bogdanovic 69) - Won more headers than Bogdanovic and his intelligence bamboozled at times. 7
Adam Hammill (for Andranik 80) - Looked sharp, got some crosses in and generally gave the fullback a bit of a hard time. 7
Unused: Luke Steele, Martin Devaney, Dennis Souza.
Tykesmad's MOTM: There's a few. Colace was class, the two centre-backs were very good, JCR was JCR but simply for THAT clearance, it has to be Bobby Hassell.
Referee - Russell Booth: Did his best to make a total clown out of himself and didn't disappoint. Odd decisions both ways, not good at all. 3
Sheffield