Chelters

I saw an article in WSC at the time of the enquiry suggesting those who blamed Liverpool fans were akin to holocaust deniers, so I think we’re already there.

Long day….

Saturday 16 April 2024 FA Carling Premiership Coventry City (away) With an outside chance of Europe still on the cards, Wednesday's late season form - coupled with scoring more than a few goals as well - meant that the entertainment value was still high enough going into the last few games of the season. Unfortunately, up next were the distinctly un-entertaining Coventry City. Not only had they ground out a completely forgettable 0-0 at Hillsborough back in November, but they had also become Wednesday's bogey team, with just 1 win in the last 13 league fixtures. The Owls squad had been buoyed by deserved international recognition for the first time for Kevin Pressman and Chris Bart-Williams, both of whom had been called up to an England training camp, and Ryan Jones, called up into the Wales squad. With the injury situation easing (or at least not getting any worse) it was a pretty settled side that travelled to Highfield Road. But, with depressing predictability, the Owls fell completely flat in a first half that was one of their worst 45 minute spells of the season. Pressman was the busier of the two keepers (former Hillsborough scorer Steve Ogrizovic being the other) and it was no real surprise when the Sky Blues went in front on 26 minutes. However, there was more than an air of controversy about it as Roland Nilsson's offending tackle on Peter Ndlovu looked distinctly outside the area. The referee was convinced though, and Ndlovu confidently slotted the spot kick into the bottom corner. Just before half time Pressman made a magnificent save, tipping Sean Flynn's header onto the bar. And just after the interval, Flynn was again denied as Pressman saved at his feet. This gave the Owls the opportunity to grab an equaliser and it was an excellent goal. A free kick from 25 yards was teed up for Jones, and he curled the ball beautifully into the top corner. Unfortunately, it was hard for the watching public on Match of the Day to appreciate that evening as the goal was missed by the official cameraman going off for a piss...er, sorry, I mean 'technical issues'. What had been a pretty poor game improved towards the end with Pressman making a couple more good saves and John Sheridan going close with a shot that whistled just wide. In truth though, a point was probably the most Wednesday deserved in a bit of a disjointed performance. Once again the Owls had failed to down the frustrating Sky Blues - who for once were mid-table rather than struggling at the bottom - and that faint hope of Europe became that bit fainter. Final score : Coventry 1-1 Wednesday Coventry : Ogrizovic, Borrows, Morgan, Atherton, Babb, Darby, Jenkinson, Rennie, Boland, Flynn, Ndlovu. Unused subs : Pickering, Quinn, Gould Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson (Coleman 89), Worthington, Pearce, Walker, Palmer, Jones, Sheridan, Hyde, Bart-Williams (Watson 53), Bright. Unused sub : Woods Attendance : 13,013

It’s common to have memorials in the place where tragic events took place, and also in a place where those who lost their lives were from. But having a memorial in Nottingham, sorry I’m not having that. I’m sure some of their fans were affected in a way but that doesn’t mean you put a memorial up. Almost feels a bit voyeuristic actually. There were plenty of people from Sheffield there as neutrals who were worse affected and whose stories have never really been told (like a fairly distant family member of mine who was policing on the Lepp and never got over it).

The butcher’s son in Corrie I think

Rebecca Welch has just done us a massive favour

Also interesting what he said about the old boys in the boardroom, presumably the old guard, sound like a lovely bunch. Sad thing is some would have them back over Chansiri.

Saturday 9 April 1994 FA Carling Premiership Queens Park Rangers (home) After a successful Easter period, the Owls looked to continue their recent upswing in form against a slightly troubled Queens Park Rangers side. The Rs had been the top placed London side in the country the previous season, finishing a creditable fifth, and were still operating in the top half of the table. But two heavy defeats prior to this game, and some boardroom shenanigans in the background, had put a bit of a different complexion on their season. On the benches it was a battle of the two Messrs Francis, with former Bristol Rovers - and future Spurs - boss Gerry lining up against our own Tricky Trev. The Rangers' boss was one of those men who found a hairstyle at some point in his 20s or 30s and thought 'right I'm sticking with that' as the spiky mullet he wore throughout his career still seems to be his preferred choice to this day. He had actually been touted for the England manager's job at around this time but lost out to Terry Venables. On the pitch Wednesday made one change to the team that had won the previous three matches, with Gordon Watson deservedly getting a place ahead of Michael Williams. The visitors lined up with some familiar names in their lineup, including Ian Holloway and 15-goal Les Ferdinand. Having scored five in their previous home game, Wednesday's confidence was up and it showed as they streaked into a three goal lead within half an hour. With just 7 minutes on the clock, Watson found a bit of space in the right edge of the penalty area. His cross-cum-shot took a deflection of a QPR defender and rolled invitingly across the 6-yard box for Mark Bright to finish neatly with his left foot. Before Wednesday added their second there was one scare as Ferdinand beat the Owls' offside trap only to skew his resulting effort nearer the corner flag than the goal, resulting in much merriment from the onlooking Kop. The second goal then duly arrived as Bright took down a high ball in the box and, as he prepared to shoot, was tugged back by Karl Ready. Despite the rather futile protestations of the away defenders it was a definite penalty (that's one of those things where you get a free shot from 12 yards out in case you've forgotten what they are) and was duly slotted home by the ever dependable John Sheridan.t Before long it was three as first Nigel Worthington put a defender on his backside with a stepover, his cross was collected by Carlton Palmer whose shot was only parried by Tony Roberts, leaving Bright the simple task of blasting in from close range for his 22nd of the season. 3-0 up and cruising at half time, expectations were high for another five goal blast at least but it wasn't to be as Wednesday understandably struggled to keep up the intensity in the second half and the game petered out. Bright had a volley saved by Roberts but the closest to a goal was a cracking effort from the edge of the area by Ryan Jones that crashed off the bar. True to form, the Owls conceded a late goal that was thankfully meaningless on this occasion as half-time substitute Devon White scored with a surprisingly deft finish (I say surprisingly as he was not usually the most subtle of footballers). Most worryingly Des Walker was stretchered off with 20 minutes to go with a suspected broken leg, yet another injury concern in a season littered with them. Thankfully though it just turned out to be heavy bruising. Despite the rather flat second half this was another impressive win for Wednesday and cemented them in 6th place. Four straight wins had even suddenly opened up an outside chance of Europe, although it would take some permutations of teams above them winning cups both domestic and European for that to happen. Final score : Wednesday 3-1 QPR Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Pearce, Walker (Coleman 71), Bart-Williams, Jones, Sheridan, Palmer, Watson, Bright. Unused subs : Jemson, Woods QPR : Roberts, Bardsley, Wilson, Ready, Yates, Impey, Meaker (White 45), Holloway, Barker, Allen, Ferdinand. Unused subs : Wilkins, Stejskal Attendance : 22,437

Yes and also we had won more games at Loftus Road than Hillsborough before lockdown. That was Clint Hill on Sougou I think?

I just can’t shake a bad feeling about today. QPR really have the bit between their teeth and we, er, don’t. Out recent record at Loftus Road is a bit mixed, two wins there in 19-20 but three defeats around that with 11 conceded.

It’s very telling that the only away games in which we have got points are when we haven’t conceded. There is a very fragile mentality there that is very difficult to sort out. I think DR’s ability to make us competitive in most games does him credit. He is a young coach in his first job and makes mistakes but he will improve, hopefully with us for a while at least.

Monday 4 April 1994 FA Carling Premiership Swindon Town (away) Wednesday's hectic Easter schedule continued with an Easter Monday game just two days after the convincing win over Everton (imagine Klopp's reaction to that). It was a trek down to deepest, darkest Wiltshire for a game against strugglers Swindon. The hosts had found their rise to the top flight predictably tough and were languishing at the foot of the table, with their defence a particular problem. They had shown some spirit though, not least in a 3-3 draw at Hillsborough over the Christmas period. The game kicked off at a rather inconvenient 8pm as it had been selected by Sky, presumably the story being Swindon's relatively faint hopes of staying up, as there was certainly not much to excite the neutral viewer in terms of the Owls' finish to the season. The Robins were definitely starting to enter the last chance saloon, and this would have seen as a must-win game for them. Wednesday had the unusual luxury of naming the same side for the third game running, although whether this was a good idea with 3 games in 5 days remained to be seen. The hosts, for their part, had brought in experienced players such as Brian Kilcline (still probably near the top of the hirsute footballers league) and Lawrie Sanchez to try and stay up. Swindon started on the front foot and were clearly going for it early on. Kilcline, Sanchez and Luc Nijholt were all denied by Kevin Pressman, the last one a particularly good save. The Owls were struggling to get a foothold in the game, with the desperation of the hosts and perhaps an element of tiredness creeping in. But, as the half went on, Wednesday did manage to start playing some football, with their best chance being a fierce drive from Chris Bart-Williams that clipped the bar. The half ended goalless with a sense that Swindon may have missed their best opportunity to seize control of the game. This proved to be the case as proceedings swung towards Wednesday in the second half. Midway through the half John Sheridan sent a pass through to substitute Gordon Watson, the ensuing collision with home goalkeeper Nicky Hammond resulted in the latter having to leave the field and be replaced by future Owls loanee Paul Heald. Swindon missed a great chance to go in front when Jan Aage Fjortoft headed over, and in the next phase of play the Owls took the lead. A deep cross from Nigel Worthington was headed back towards goal by Mark Bright and, with the ball looking to head just wide, Watson nipped in to stab the ball over the line for his 11th of the season. It was a good return for the often reserve striker in comparison to his minutes on the field over the course of the season. The hosts huffed and puffed but the goal had clearly knocked them and Wednesday were to see the game out without too much difficulty. It was far from a swashbuckling performance by the Owls, more of a solid and steady away performance. It capped an impressive Easter period with three wins and nine goals scored and lifted Wednesday to 6th in the table. For the hosts, it was a damaging defeat that left them 11 points from safety with just 5 games left and staring down the barrel. Final score : Swindon 0-1 Wednesday Swindon : Hammond (Heald 67), Whitbread (Horlock 43), Bodin, Kilcline, Taylor, Summerbee, Moncur, Nijholt, Sanchez, Fjortoft. Unused sub : McAvennie Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Pearce, Walker, Williams (Watson 56), Jones, Sheridan, Palmer, Bart-Williams, Bright (Coleman 83). Unused sub : Woods Attendance : 13,727

Let’s not forget Leicester fucked us over for George Hirst too. As for FFP, in the PL the limit of losses should be based on Champions League revenues, in the Championship it should be based on parachute payments. Anything else just entrenches a lack of fair competition.

Saturday 2 April 1994 FA Carling Premiership Everton (home) Having shaken off a winless run of 8 games with a midweek victory over Chelsea, the Owls faced old foes Everton at Hillsborough. The Toffees had been a real bogey side in the 80s but, since returning to the top flight in 1991, Wednesday had had the better of it against the Merseysiders, and had been comfortable 2-0 victors in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day. The visitors were on a poor run and looking nervously over their shoulders, just four points above the relegation zone and with a real danger of going down. Manager MIke Walker had been appointed from Norwich in January but had not settled well at Goodison, with his first big signing Brett Angell (who had scored prolifically for Southend) not exactly hitting the heights either. To make matters worse, they were saddled with a distinctly dodgy away kit of 'salmon and navy stripes', not particularly de rigeur back in those days. Wednesday were unchanged from the Chelsea win and were at it from the off, scoring after just 11 minutes, Ryan Jones ending a bit of penalty area pinball with a drilled low shot past Neville Southall's left hand and into the bottom corner. This was clearly the last thing Everton needed and their lack of confidence was pounced on by a resurgent Owls side. Carlton Palmer had a powerful effort brilliantly saved by Southall and Mark Bright's volley was cleared off the line by Graham Stuart. As the half drew to a close Angell fluffed a chance for an equaliser for the visitors, and Wednesday took full advantage. Chris Bart-Williams gathered a high ball, twisted and turned and struck a low shot into the near post with Southall completely deceived. It wasn't a great moment for the Everton stopper and his frustration was beginning to show. The start of the second half saw a quieter period in the game, but it came to life again with four goals in the last 15 minutes. First Wednesday added a third as Nigel Worthington scored his first of the season with an angled drive, again Southall should have done better as he tried to save with his foot. Everton then scored straight from the restart as half-time substitute Tony Cottee scored from close range. This didn't spur Everton on though, and it was the Owls who were to continue to dominate. Into the last ten minutes, Bart-Williams found space on the right and found Bright in the box to turn and volley a fourth. With 3 minutes to go Bart-Williams again tormented the Toffees' defence down the right, this time hitting a high cross that eluded Southall and gave Bright the simple task of heading into the empty net for his 20th goal of the season. Eight goals in two games had seen Wednesday rise to third highest scorers in the division, and ended any lingering fears of a late season collapse. Sadly, qualification for Europe was out of reach so it was a case of trying to finish the season on a high. For Everton the dark clouds were gathering, but they were to pull off a famous escape on the last day of the season against Wimbledon. Final score : Wednesday 5-1 Everton Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Pearce, Walker, Williams (Watson 74), Jones, Palmer, Sheridan (King 64), Bart-Williams, Bright. Unused sub : Woods Everton : Southall, Jackson, Unsworth, Snodin, Watson, Moore (Cottee 45), Stuart, Limpar, Horne, Ebbrell, Angell (Rowett 79). Unused sub : Kearton. Attendance : 24,096

I decided to venture to Cheltenham v Exeter yesterday. They are in a similar position to us : terrible start, positive manager change, improvement but just can’t get out of the relegation zone. And they can’t buy a penalty either. As for us, well it’s been a disappointing Easter to say the least, I think we were hoping for 4 points, maybe 3, but one point doesn’t feel like enough at this stage. The QPR game is massive now, we have to get something from it but I fear our fragility in away games is going to hit again as they will be on the front foot with a good crowd, I think we might crumble. But a win could see us out of the relegation zone of course. If we do go down, DC has to pull out the stops to get DR to stay but I wonder if he might have to trim the back room team a bit.