Sheffield Wednesday 1 Sunderland 1

Oscar Chamberlain reviews all the action from Hillsborough as Sunderland continued their Sky Bet Championship campaign against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Black Cats made the perfect start in South Yorkshire with George Honeyman’s first league goal – and second strike in three games – making it 1-0 after just three minutes.

Grayson’s men hassled and harried but chances to double their lead fell by the wayside, with David Jones’ second-half rocket setting up a grandstand finale.

RACED OUT THE TRACKS

James Vaughan took centre stage early on with a thumping challenge on Jack Hunt resulting in an early stoppage – and Wednesday didn’t get going again until it was far too late. A quick throw-in was held up by the former Bury striker and he picked out Aiden McGeady who breezed into the box, and Keiren Westwood was so far out of position he may as well have been back on Wearside. Honeyman made him pay. The youngster took two touches to settle himself before volleying the ball through the bodies and into the empty net. The perfect start. And it could have been even worse for Wednesday as they failed to track Brendan Galloway, but after overlapping McGeady his cross was just behind the on-rushing Black Cats.

STEELE CITY

Wednesday edged back into the game and they focussed on the flanks, with Adam Reach enjoying a particularly fruitful spell down the left as the opening period progressed. The left-back galloped forward at every opportunity and his persistence almost paid off on 20 minutes, as a drive cross ricocheted through the box and fell to Almen Abdi six yards from goal. It wasn’t the cleanest of strikes from the Swiss international, but it forced Jason Steele into action and the stopper’s reactions were spot on as he denied the attacking midfielder. And the goalkeeper once again asserted his dominance five minutes later, as Vaughan’s defensive header looped straight into the air and he battled through a crowded penalty area before punching clear.

HOME DISCOMFORTS

A frustrating opening half hour ensured the natives were restless and the gasps of despair every time Wednesday lost possession did little to buoy the Owls. In fairness, the home side had a lot of the ball and they had threatened on occasion, but Sunderland were ruthless on the counter and they simply couldn’t keep a lid on McGeady and Grabban. The tireless duo – aided by powerhouse Vaughan – caused a constant headache for the Wednesday backline, and before the break they should have made it 2-0 as Grabban got too much on a McGeady free-kick and slammed a header wide. And Galloway also went close after diving down the left, with Westwood gathering at the second attempt to deny Grabban a tap-in. Instead, a one-goal advantage had to do at the interval.

A FAMILIAR CHANGE

Carlos Carvalhal plot for an equaliser saw him turn to a familiar face as the Portuguese manager called upon Steven Fletcher following the break. The Scotland international spent four years on Wearside and made over 100 appearances, with his goals against Newcastle United ensuring a lasting legacy in the north east. The striker added a new dimension to Wednesday’s attack and he showed some nice touches early on, but the clearest chances continued to fall to those in red and white as Vaughan lashed a volley wide before the hour mark.

BOLT FROM THE BLUE

Sunderland were comfortable and it was going to take a moment of supreme quality to find a way past the Black Cats’ resolute back four – but on 71 minutes that’s exactly what Wednesday got. David Jones was the man who delivered and the right-back’s stunning effort was simply unstoppable, with a 30-yard piledriver flying into the top corner to set up a tense finale. With the wind in their sails, Wednesday went in search of a winner as Carvalhal called on Jordan Rhodes with the former Boro man completing a potent front three that also included Fletcher and Gary Hooper. And the Owls’ record signing went close to an immediate impact, with his header powering over the crossbar after Fletcher’s flick on.

BACKS TO THE WALL

Grayson’s men had to dig deep in the latter stages as wave after wave of attack crashed against their backline, but they will be satisfied with their solidity as they came through unscathed. Lamine Kone made a fine intervention to deny Rhodes before a goalmouth scramble was somehow scrambled to safety. Hooper was next to try his luck as Sunderland continued to live dangerously, but this time the crossbar came to the rescue as the forward’s dipping volley crashed behind. Four minutes were added on at the end and Wednesday continued to plough forward, but the Black Cats held firm to keep their unbeaten run intact.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt (Palmer 84), Jones, Bannan, Winnall (Rhodes 73), Hooper, Lees, Reach, Wallace, Pudil, Adbi (Fletcher 46).
Subs not used: Wildsmith, Fox, Matias, Boyd.

Sunderland: Steele, Jones, Kone, Browning, Galloway, Cattermole, Ndong, Honeyman, McGeady (Khazri 78), Grabban (Gooch 84), Vaughan.
Substitutes: Ruiter, O’Shea, Asoro, Gibson, Matthews.

Report: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Sunderland 1