Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 MK Dons

The weekend saw the beginning of another new era at Sheffield Wednesday, new manager Gary Megson who was appointed just the day before the game, was there to watch and spur on his new players. I think it's safe to say most Owls fans are happy with the new managers appointment, but like any choice, he was not everyones favorite candidate for the Hillsborough post. Before the game in an interview with the Yorkshire Post, Megson admitted "I'm going to have to be part of it this weekend. I am not the type that likes to sit and watch from the director's box". Wednesday fans could already sense a hands on approach from a man who had followed his fathers foot steps making himself a legend by playing In a Wednesday Shirt. Megson racked up 233 appearances for the Owls, in two different spells, making himself a fans favourite in the defensive midfield role, which he was highly regarded for throughout his career. Megson managerial career has been rather hit and miss so far, with a fantastic four year spell at West Brom followed by a rather unconvincing period as manager of Nottingham Forest, in which they were relegated to the third tier of English football. Megson also has Premier League experience as a manger with both West Brom and more recently Bolton for whom he managed 99 games in the Premier League. Unfortunately, because Megson wasn't the first managerial choice of either the club or the supporters at the Reebok Stadium, he was never really given much of a chance and much of his good work, was undermined by the lack of acceptance and support from Bolton Fans. Megson has been out of the game for over a year now and was eager to get back into football, especially with the club he has supported as a boy. On the official Sheffield Wednesday website an interview with Megson revealed his delight at managing the club and Working under Milan Mandaric once more. "Managing Sheffield Wednesday is something I have always wanted to do and I am absolutely delighted", Megson also acknowledged the difficulty of the task that he was faced with "The job itself is a tough job - ordinarily you would want to be managing Sheffield Wednesday in a division where you think the club should be but we are where we are and now we want to try and get it moving forward as quickly as we can."


Megson's reign as the Owls boss comes right in the middle of a dire run of form. Despite a positive start from Wednesday at the Weekend, they were once again a goal down at Hillsborough with less than 20 minutes played. Keanu Marsh-Brown was played through on goal and beat Arron Jameson to the ball, only for the young keeper, making his second start of the season for the Owls, to bring him down. Jameson was only booked for the penalty, which may well have been a red card on another day. Jameson very nearly took advantage of his fortune by coming close to stopping Peter Leven's low hard strike to the Youngsters left, but it was not to be. Jameson made his only other appearance this season, in the reverse fixture as Stadium MK where Wednesday came away 4-1 winners, Jameson impressing on his debut. Wednesday then looked rocked and could not get back into the good play that saw them on top in the early stages of the game. Just nine minutes later MK Dons took advantage of some more slack Wednesday defending, Michael Morrison gave his man far too much room to get a cross in, which was flicked home by Daniel Powell. Unfortunately for Wednesday an imposing, powerful home debut from Reda Johnson has yet to be repeated at Hillsborough, Alan Irvine strengthened the defense in the transfer window and his signings are so far yet to impress. Johnson is clearly very strong and powerful in the air both in his own box and the opponents box, but he lacks co-ordination and composure from what I have seen so far. Michael Morrison has failed to inspire since his move from Leicester City and has looked awkward most of the time. Hopefully for the Wednesday faithful, the current defensive lapse is due to an almost entirely new back four being strung together, and sooner or later things will come good for the new signings.


Alternatively, Wednesday new front man Gary Madine has continually impressed for the Owls since his move from Carlisle. Madine had scored 2 in 3 before Saturday's game at MK Dons and for the first 25 minutes once more looked very composed and showed off his great touch for Wednesday. After Wednesday went 2-0 down Madine looked much quieter, probably through no fault of his own as the big target man was surrounded by players low on confidence and lacking the quality needed in the final third. Wednesday went in 2-0 down at half-time and failed to look threatening in their attempt to get a goal back, the only sign of Wednesday coming close to a goal came from James O'Connor who clipped the crossbar with a strike from the edge of the penalty area. Wednesday were given a glimmer of hope at the end of the first half, with Gary Mackenzie clumsily pulling back Clinton Morrison on the half way line, with Mackenzie already on a booking he had to walk back down the tunnel. Changed certainly needed to be made and Gary Megson, although not in charge of team affairs on the day, could not help getting involved in the half-time team talk. Gary Madine ended up being replaced at half-time, surely suggesting he must have picked up a knock in the first half, and Gary Teale also came off after a lack-luster first half performance. Neil Mellor and Paul Heffernan took to the field, and bizarrely Jermaine Johnson moved into a central role, leaving four attackers on the pitch and no wingers to supply the service. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come for Wednesday, as I doubt many Wednesdayites want to see Wednesday play the long ball game under Gary Megson. The tactics once again looked peculiar as Wednesday chased the game, finally Wednesday pulled a goal back mid way through the second half with arguably Wednesday's man of the match, going on a mesmerizing run before flicking through Neil Mellor, who calmly slotted the ball past the Dons Keeper, Martin. Wednesday then kept the pressure up for a while, but continued to be frustrated as the lack of wingers on the pitch for the Owls, made the job far more comfortable for the MK Dons defense. Having said this Wednesday continued to look a threat from corners, especially Giles Cokes corners from the right, which eventually saw success. in the 83rd minute Coke played a ball in which was flicked toward the back post by Neil Mellor, Clinton Morrison was standing unmarked and with his back faced to goal volleyed home impressively. Hillsborough began to raise the roof as expectation and momentum built, and just a minute later Owls fans were given even more to cheer about. The Dons had a rare attacking free kick, which was whipped in to the back post towards two completely unmarked men, one of which Hammered the ball towards goal from 5 yards out only to be foiled by a fantastic finger tip save from youngster Jameson. He tipped the ball onto the bar and then watched his defenders make up for their awful marking by clearing their lines well. Within seconds Wednesday were on the counter attack and Daniel Jones had been played clean through, two covering defenders tried to track back, but Jones' pace proved too much for them and goal scorer Leven brought down Jones and was issued a second yellow card. Wednesday had 6 minutes remaining to grab all three points, and Giles Coke was ever so close to doing so, his strike struck the outside of the post with just a few minutes left. Wednesday attacks were now coming wave after wave and a high ball towards Neil Mellor looked promising before he was bundled over, for what looked like a cast iron penalty. The referee waved away Wednesday's loud appeals to the dismay of the supporters and players. Stoppage town was now upon the Owls and one last attack was on the cards, Paul Heffernan  was put clean through on goal, and was again blatantly taken out by an MK Dons defender. But miraculously the decision was not given, and this time, Clinton Morrison could not hide his discontent, following the referee down the field, arguing his case in vain, with the only outcome a yellow card for the Owls front man.

The final Whistle came about and for the 3rd home league in a row Wednesday had drawn 2-2 against their league one opponents. This time Wednesday will feel unjust because of the manner of their defeat, but they can have no complaints about referees at Hillsborough in recent matches who have reduced two times to 9 men in the last few weeks. Neither time have Wednesday been able to capitalise, highlighting the need for urgent change. The truth is, we probably should have come away with victory against MK Dons but poor defending and lack of a creative edge up front has caused the Owls to be on a prolonged winless streak. One thing for sure, is that new manager Gary Megson has his hands full, with high expectations still surrounding Hillsborough since the investment from Milan Mandaric, who is yet to see Wednesday win a League One fixture under his reign.

Player Ratings

Arron Jameson - 7, he was unlucky to concede the penalty which was largely down to poor defending and saved a point for the Owls with a magnificent save, however his kicking was at times poor in difficult conditions.

Lewis Buxton- 6, still didn't look 100% match fit and made a couple of errors, but in all fairness in the second half he was playing as a right winger, which is certainly not his most comfortable position.

Michael Morrison- 5, still finding his feet for the Owls, looked unsettled and nervy and his slack defending was the cause for the second goal, only positive was once again his demonstration that he is a very good tackler.

Reda Johnson- 5, had his first poor game in an Owls shirt at Hillsborough, MK Dons weren't exactly enthralling to watch going forward, but still made Johnson and his CB partner look awkward a lot of the time, also kept giving away silly fouls, which caused problems for the Owls.

Daniel Jones- 7, looked very comfortable going forward in the second half, and made a terrific run to get Leven sent off, still didn't look good defensively at times.

Jermaine Johnson- 6, first half saw him look both lively and frustrating as we often see with Jermaine, but always possesses a threat to opposing defenders. Second half saw him in a much more central role, Johnson thrives in space, playing him along side 3 other attackers was never going to work, and saw him play an ineffectual role in the second half.

Giles Coke- 8, very impressive again for the Owls, was playing like he was at the beginning of the season. Inspiring runs and hard working back tracking as well. Unfortunately lack of similar influence around him, stopped him having such an effect on the game.

James O'Connor- 6, did what JOC always does, worked hard and got amongst the MK Dons midfielders, but once again lacked any quality with his passing, However he was unlucky to hit the bar from a lovely strike in the first half.

Gary Teale- 5, poor game from Teale, who often gives Wednesday the extra bit of class needed in this division. Teale's set pieces were poor and so was his general play, which saw him substituted at half time.

Gary Madine- 7, showed a very good touch and looked class on the ball as well as in the air for 25 minutes. Lacked much effect on the game towards the end of the second half, and was subsequently taken off.

Clinton Morrison- 7, Grabbed himself a well deserved goal, and continued to be as vocal as ever, at times was not involved as much as he would have liked to be.

Substitutes:

Neil Mellor- 7, gave Owls an extra option up front and grabbed a crucial goal
Paul Heffernan- 7, once again looked composed and should have won a penalty late on, offers an extra bit of class up front for Wednesday, hopefully Megson will see that much more than Alan Irvine ever did.