30 years ago

[Chelters]

I realised after writing this one up that I was a week early due to an international break but I thought I’d just get it posted up anyway….

Saturday 20 November 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Coventry City (home)

 

After the performance of the season so far at Ipswich, and a determined victory in the League Cup against Middlesbrough, the Owls looked to keep their decent run of form going. However, mid-table Coventry were not exactly the ideal opposition as they were a bit of bogey side for Wednesday, being one of only two teams who had done the double the previous season and having frustrated the Owls a number of times over recent years.

 

Wednesday were still somewhat depleted and started the game with only one recognised striker in the eleven, Nigel Jemson. For the first time this season, Trevor Francis therefore named himself on the bench at the ripe old age of 39. The visitors were managed by Phil Neal, and included in their ranks future Owls Peter Atherton and Chris Marsden.

 

Wednesday started the match brightly with Andy Pearce inches away from connecting with Jemson's cross shot, denying him a goal against his former club. Ryan Jones and Andy Sinton were off target before Chris Waddle had a disappointingly tame shot saved by former Hillsborough scorer Steve Ogrizovic.

 

The game then swung Coventry's way with Micky Quinn heading against the bar, then fluffing another header from Willie Boland's centre. Tricky winger (and future Blade) Peter Ndlovu skilfully worked a chance but then fired over. Wednesday finished the first half in the ascendancy but still failed to create anything really clear cut.

 

Into the second half, the visitors had the first chance with Phil Babb heading just wide.  Wednesday huffed and puffed, with Waddle always busy and firing a free kick over, before creating a chance for Carlton Palmer that flew wide. 

 

Mid-way through the half Francis brought himself on in an effort to break the deadlock, but somewhat frustratingly in a like-for-like substitution for Jemson. There were a couple more chances from a Jones header and Waddle free-kick, but there was an air of inevitably as the clock ticked down with no goals appearing on the horizon.

 

It was to prove the last ever appearance of Francis's career, what a player he was and we were lucky to have seen him grace the Hillsborough turf. RIP Trev.

 

So it was another frustrating day against the Sky Blues, and a bit of a case of 'after the lord mayor's show' after the Ipswich display. 

 

Final score : Wednesday 0-0 Coventry

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Pearce, Walker, Waddle, Sinton, Hyde, Jones, Jemson (Francis 66), Palmer. Unused subs : Poric, Key

 

Coventry : Ogrizovic, Borrows, Morgan, Rennie, Babb, Boland, Ndlovu, Flynn, McGrath (Atherton 83), Williams, Quinn. Unused subs : Marsden, Gould

 

Attendance : 23,379

 

[Reesh]

Two future Owls in the Coventry squad.

[JBO]

Surprised that wasn't mentioned in the article 

[Reesh]

1 hour ago, JBO said:

Surprised that wasn't mentioned in the article 

As if i was reading all that of a Sunday 

[bricat]

Just seen a snippet of Willie Henderson playing for us some 50 years ago. Boring bit of trivia but I thought I'd chuck it in. 

[Tank_Owl2,0]

23k in the PL against not a particularly high profile team. Granted we werent exactly flying but two good result in the run up.

Jump 30years. More or less 26k in the Championship, rock bottom against hardly a big crowd puller. Despite all said and done its pretty amazing really. 

[KrolMong]

This was the game where Carlton played the whole game up top. And he was pretty awful.

[KrolMong]

29 minutes ago, Tank_Owl2,0 said:

23k in the PL against not a particularly high profile team. Granted we werent exactly flying but two good result in the run up.

Jump 30years. More or less 26k in the Championship, rock bottom against hardly a big crowd puller. Despite all said and done its pretty amazing really. 

What was different was that we finished this season with the 8th highest average in the country. Man Utd averaged 44k that season. 

[Owling_Wolf]

5 hours ago, bricat said:

Just seen a snippet of Willie Henderson playing for us some 50 years ago. Boring bit of trivia but I thought I'd chuck it in. 

I always remember him playing for us at Huddersfield in the old 2nd division. After about half an hour we'd done little and were losing 0-1. (Alan Gowling?) At which point we decided to start playing. We were all over them for the rest of the game, absolute waves of attacks, and Wee Willie had an absolute stormer.  We did everything but score: hit the ref on the arse on the goal line, that kind of game.  The kind of game that I still remember something like 50 years later. Oh yes, we lost 1-0.  🙄

Trivia that day: well known Yorkshire cricketer Arnold Sidebottom, (father of Ryan), played centre half for Hudds. They'd signed him from Man U.

[Chelters]

Wednesday 24 November 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Oldham Athletic (home)

 

If the previous game against Coventry have been played in chilly conditions, this one was positively Arctic as Wednesday took on struggling Oldham at a snow-bound Hillsborough. The Owls had risen slightly to 17th in the table whilst their visitors languished at second from bottom, with only Swindon propping them up. However, both of their wins so far this season had come away from home.

 

It’s fair to say that, after getting promoted together in 1991, the two sides’ fortunes had diverged as the Owls went from strength to strength whilst the Latics found themselves in a battle to stay in the Premiership, only surviving on goal difference the previous season. They were still managed by promotion-winning boss Joe Royle, and maintained a good base of the players who had got them promoted.

 

Wednesday were able to welcome Chris Bart-Williams back to the bench and recalled Gordon Watson to the starting lineup. However, Michael Williams had suffered a nasty leg fracture in a reserve match and would be missing for several months. Watson was playing despite suffering from a flu bug and joined Nigel Jemson up front in what seemed very much like the ‘reserve’ strike partnership. But it was a partnership that proved to be handy enough for this match….

 

Wednesday took the lead after just 7 minutes : Andy Sinton hit a swerving shot that smashed against the post and Watson was there to put away the rebound. Oldham did not let the bad start get to them too much and created a couple of chances, the best of them seeing Kevin Pressman pull off a brilliant save from Graeme Sharp. But the Owls doubled their lead on 32 minutes : Ryan Jones played Watson through and his first effort was blocked, but Mike Milligan and keeper Gary Walsh made a hash of things and Watson was able to tuck away his second.

 

Sinton unfortunately had to go off injured just before half-time, and the visitors suffered a similar issue when Milligan went off shortly after the break. It was soon 3-0 as Jones intercepted Oldham’s attempt to play out from the back and crossed for Jemson to head home at the far post. Wednesday were able to see out the rest of the game without too much trouble. Pressman had to be on his toes to save a couple of efforts from Paul Bernard, but the Owls were close to a fourth when Richard Jobson had to make a goal-line clearance from Watson.

 

Whilst this was only the third win of the season, Wednesday had now gone 9 games unbeaten in all competitions and things were definitely starting to look up a bit, with a trip to Maine Road up next.

 

Final score : Wednesday 3-0 Oldham

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Walker, Pearce (Hyde 45), Waddle, Sinton (Bart-Williams 43), Palmer, Jones, Watson, Jemson. Unused sub : Key

 

Oldham : Walsh, Halle, Fleming, Jobson, Redmond, Eyre (Makin 45), Adams, Milligan (Beresford 52), Bernard, Ritchie, Sharp. Unused sub : Hallworth

 

Attendance : 18,509

 

[HoylandOwl]

Watson and Jenson up front. Two players who made the best of their abilities. While they didn't have boat loads of skill, they generally knew where the net was. 

[Chelters]

Saturday 27 November 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Manchester City (away)

 

The Owls travelled to Manchester to take on a City side who were far from the force they are these days, struggling in the bottom half and under the managership of the never popular Brian Horton. Wednesday, for their part, had picked up a bit after their poor start to the season but still needed some wins to allow them to start climbing the table.

 

Mark Bright was back from suspension and immediately resumed duties up from alongside Nigel Jemson, with the midweek two-goal hero Gordon Watson dropping out of the squad, presumably linked to the flu bug that he was struggling with. City, for their part, started with a pairing of Niall Quinn and Mike Sheron up front, and future Blade Keith Curle in defence.

 

The first half was relatively quiet but with a couple of good chances for either side. The returning Bright fluffed a shot early on, and was then denied by a double save by Tony Coton : the first shot was saved before City defender Alan Kernaghan deflected the ball goalwards, but the City custodian was able to scramble back and save on the line. In between those two chances, Andy Sinton had been caught by Michel Vonk and was eventually forced off for the second game running.

 

Wednesday almost gifted City the lead midway through the half when Kevin Pressman was caught trying to dribble the ball out but Quinn was unable to convert the resulting open goal. The first half subsequently ended goalless.

 

The second half was a completely different story though, and 20 minutes after the restart the Owls took the lead. Chris Waddle played a high ball into the box for Bright, who knocked it down for Ryan Jones to hold off two defenders and finish past Coton, at which point the home fans immediately started to turn. This was the start of a great spell by Wednesday and a few minutes later they doubled their lead. Chris Bart-Williams (who had come on for Sinton) embarked on a fantastic solo run that saw him leave two City defenders, then Coton, in his wake, before passing the ball towards the empty net – only for Jones to rush in and knock the ball in on the line for a great piece of goal stealing, probably denying Bartman the goal of his career to date.

 

With six minutes to go it was three, and deservedly so. Roland Nilsson worked the ball to Graham Hyde on the right, and his cross was headed home confidently by Jemson for his fourth of the season. City got a goal back straight away when Sheron cut in from the left and finished well. Despite a late scare when Jones cleared another Sheron effort on the line, there was no doubt as to the outcome.

 

The win lifted the Owls to 14th in the table as the hosts continued to sink downwards, and was their third away win in a row at Manchester City. What odds that we will ever do that again?

 

Final score : Man City 1-3 Wednesday

 

Man City : Coton, Vonk, Phelan, Curle, Kernaghan, Lomas, Simpson, McMahon, Sheron, Quinn (Mike 45). Unused subs : Brightwell, Margetson.

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Palmer, Walker, Waddle, Sinton (Bart-Williams 24), Hyde, Jones, Jemson, Bright. Unused subs : Poric, Key

 

Attendance : 23,416

 

[HoylandOwl]

A fantastic afternoon on the wrong side of the pennines was had that day.

[Otto_Man]

I went to that game on the ICO would have been about 16 I reckon, we'd snuck a few cans and found some dodgy little gennel to go and drink them down blissfully unaware of where we were 😁.

Nowt happened, but I often think it was pure dumb luck 😆

[mkowl]

8 hours ago, Otto_Man said:

I went to that game on the ICO would have been about 16 I reckon, we'd snuck a few cans and found some dodgy little gennel to go and drink them down blissfully unaware of where we were 😁.

Nowt happened, but I often think it was pure dumb luck 😆

Wasn't that game but going to City in the past on the ICO they parked the coaches about a mile away at some park, then you got marched down the road, through some housing estate and the last part was a gennel between the stadium and some houses. Before queuing up to get in the away end next to the Kippax. With probably the Gallagers giving us shit.

Only years later you realised this was ruddy Moss Side 

[Owling_Wolf]

On 26/11/2023 at 20:06, Chelters said:

Saturday 27 November 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Manchester City (away)

 

The Owls travelled to Manchester to take on a City side who were far from the force they are these days, struggling in the bottom half and under the managership of the never popular Brian Horton. Wednesday, for their part, had picked up a bit after their poor start to the season but still needed some wins to allow them to start climbing the table.

 

Mark Bright was back from suspension and immediately resumed duties up from alongside Nigel Jemson, with the midweek two-goal hero Gordon Watson dropping out of the squad, presumably linked to the flu bug that he was struggling with. City, for their part, started with a pairing of Niall Quinn and Mike Sheron up front, and future Blade Keith Curle in defence.

 

The first half was relatively quiet but with a couple of good chances for either side. The returning Bright fluffed a shot early on, and was then denied by a double save by Tony Coton : the first shot was saved before City defender Alan Kernaghan deflected the ball goalwards, but the City custodian was able to scramble back and save on the line. In between those two chances, Andy Sinton had been caught by Michel Vonk and was eventually forced off for the second game running.

 

Wednesday almost gifted City the lead midway through the half when Kevin Pressman was caught trying to dribble the ball out but Quinn was unable to convert the resulting open goal. The first half subsequently ended goalless.

 

The second half was a completely different story though, and 20 minutes after the restart the Owls took the lead. Chris Waddle played a high ball into the box for Bright, who knocked it down for Ryan Jones to hold off two defenders and finish past Coton, at which point the home fans immediately started to turn. This was the start of a great spell by Wednesday and a few minutes later they doubled their lead. Chris Bart-Williams (who had come on for Sinton) embarked on a fantastic solo run that saw him leave two City defenders, then Coton, in his wake, before passing the ball towards the empty net – only for Jones to rush in and knock the ball in on the line for a great piece of goal stealing, probably denying Bartman the goal of his career to date.

 

With six minutes to go it was three, and deservedly so. Roland Nilsson worked the ball to Graham Hyde on the right, and his cross was headed home confidently by Jemson for his fourth of the season. City got a goal back straight away when Sheron cut in from the left and finished well. Despite a late scare when Jones cleared another Sheron effort on the line, there was no doubt as to the outcome.

 

The win lifted the Owls to 14th in the table as the hosts continued to sink downwards, and was their third away win in a row at Manchester City. What odds that we will ever do that again?

 

Final score : Man City 1-3 Wednesday

 

Man City : Coton, Vonk, Phelan, Curle, Kernaghan, Lomas, Simpson, McMahon, Sheron, Quinn (Mike 45). Unused subs : Brightwell, Margetson.

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Palmer, Walker, Waddle, Sinton (Bart-Williams 24), Hyde, Jones, Jemson, Bright. Unused subs : Poric, Key

 

Attendance : 23,416

 

My memory of that game was Sinton starting off brilliantly but Bright missing two relatively easy chances that the winger had created superbly. The City defender who Sinton was turning inside out then decided it wasn't happening again and 'did him'.  He had to go off, as detailed by Chelters above, and was never the same player again. 

Lots of people comment on how Andy Sinton was poor for us.  Not when we signed him, he wasn't: he was the player we thought we were getting. The only thing wrong was that Trev paid through the nose for him: about three times his opening offer. One Francis was outmaneuvered by the other, QPR's Gerry.  And it exemplified our luck that we never even had long to enjoy the quality we'd overpaid for.  

[Andyben]

The fact that QPR replaced him with Trevor Sinclair from Blackpool (?) for much much less didn't help 

[Andyben]

*yup £600k from Blackpool and 7 years younger 

Edited November 29, 2023 by Andyben

[Chelters]

Going back and reviewing these games has made me realise that Sinton was really getting going at this point. Every game seems to involve an assist from him, shame it never worked out in the end.

 

[Owling_Wolf]

5 hours ago, Andyben said:

The fact that QPR replaced him with Trevor Sinclair from Blackpool (?) for much much less didn't help 

Yep, Francis ran rings around Francis over those moves. 

[Chelters]

Wednesday 1 December 1993

Coca Cola Cup 4th Round

Queens Park Rangers (away)

 

A busy period for the Owls continued with a midweek trip down to Loftus Road to take on a decent QPR side as they sought a place in the quarter finals of the League Cup.

 

Wednesday made one change from the side that had won impressively at Maine Road, with Chris Bart-Williams replacing the injured Andy Sinton. There was a new face on the bench with the loan signing of defender Simon Coleman, brought in from Derby County for an initial month to provide some extra cover with the Owls suffering a number of injuries.

 

Not only was there a new signing but there was also a new kit. With the problems earlier in the season over the black away kit and the white third kit, this time it was a gold shirt with black shorts, another shirt that become somewhat of a collectors’ item. Including Bolton’s away kit, this was the fifth kit of the season already. Good money for Puma presumably.

 

The game started quietly but burst into life just after the half hour mark as the Owls took the lead. A Rangers attack was foiled, allowing Chris Waddle to play a through ball for Nigel Jemson, who held off the challenge of Alan McDonald before firing powerfully past Jan Stejskal for an impressively taken goal. 

 

This then led to a spell of QPR pressure with Kevin Pressman having to be smart to save from both Simon Barker and Bradley Allen. Wednesday should then really have doubled their lead after some good interplay saw Graham Hyde and Nigel Worthington have a clear chance between them. Unfortunately it was a case of ‘after you Claude’ and the chance went begging. It was to prove costly as the home side equalised just before the break when Andrew Impey crossed for young winger Michael Meaker to head home his first senior goal.

 

The second half was to prove a difficult period for Wednesday as Rangers enjoyed the majority of possession, albeit without creating too many chances. It could and should have been 2-1 to the home side when the normally reliable Les Ferdinand headed a glorious chance against the bar.

 

With just 3 minutes to go, the winning goal arrived and, thankfully, it was somewhat against the run of play. Waddle sent Worthington away down the left wing and his cross was met by a perfectly timed run and diving header by Ryan Jones. The young Owls midfielder remained grounded and, with arms stretched in front of him almost in a shrug, smiled at the joyful visiting fans as he took in the moment.

 

There were two more chance for Wednesday as the home side attempted to get level, but Mark Bright couldn’t convert either of them. No matter though, as the visitors saw out the game for a great win and an 11th straight game without defeat in all competitions. 

 

Final score QPR 1-2 Wednesday

 

QPR : Stejskal, Bardsley, Wilson, Peacock, McDonald, Impey (White 81), Meaker, Wilkins, Barker, Allen, Ferdinand. Unused subs : Holloway, Roberts

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Palmer, Walker, Waddle, Bart-Williams (Poric 59), Hyde, Jones, Jemson, Bright. Unused subs : Coleman, Key

 

[HarrySpeakup]

I was on a course in Manchester that week and I had to drive back to Hollingsworth on the woodhead road to get a signal in the car from radio Sheffield 

 

[mkowl]

7 hours ago, HarrySpeakup said:

I was on a course in Manchester that week and I had to drive back to Hollingsworth on the woodhead road to get a signal in the car from radio Sheffield 

 

This internet invention I keep hearing about will be marvellous when it comes in. 

The mad things we once did - like watching Ceefax to get updates. Dedication to duty was that 

[HoylandOwl]

On 29/11/2023 at 18:05, Owling_Wolf said:

My memory of that game was Sinton starting off brilliantly but Bright missing two relatively easy chances that the winger had created superbly. The City defender who Sinton was turning inside out then decided it wasn't happening again and 'did him'.  He had to go off, as detailed by Chelters above, and was never the same player again. 

Lots of people comment on how Andy Sinton was poor for us.  Not when we signed him, he wasn't: he was the player we thought we were getting. The only thing wrong was that Trev paid through the nose for him: about three times his opening offer. One Francis was outmaneuvered by the other, QPR's Gerry.  And it exemplified our luck that we never even had long to enjoy the quality we'd overpaid for.  

He started very well with us, no doubt. But once he got injured that was it. He never got back to his initial form. 

[Lee]

1 hour ago, mkowl said:

This internet invention I keep hearing about will be marvellous when it comes in. 

The mad things we once did - like watching Ceefax to get updates. Dedication to duty was that 

Or joining the crowd of others watching the vidiprinter through a TV stockists window!!!!

[mkowl]

6 hours ago, Lee said:

Or joining the crowd of others watching the vidiprinter through a TV stockists window!!!!

I watched the famous Headingly test match in 1981 when Bob Willis tore through the Aussies, outside some TV shop top of The Moor. 

 

[Andyben]

Is it even a real Owlsonline thread if @mkowlDoesn't post some inconsequential, asinine story about himself?

[Beaconowl]

8 minutes ago, Andyben said:

Is it even a real Owlsonline thread if @mkowlDoesn't post some inconsequential, asinine story about himself?

or his clients, TBF

[mkowl]

2 hours ago, Andyben said:

Is it even a real Owlsonline thread if @mkowlDoesn't post some inconsequential, asinine story about himself?

Well I could slag off Chansiri if you prefer.

 

[Chelters]

30 minutes ago, mkowl said:

Well I could slag off Chansiri if you prefer.

 

This is 1993, so it will have to be Dave Richards

[mkowl]

38 minutes ago, Chelters said:

This is 1993, so it will have to be Dave Richards

Tbf that's not difficult 

[Andyben]

1 hour ago, mkowl said:

Well I could slag off Chansiri if you prefer.

 

Not for much longer....👀

[Reesh]

5 minutes ago, Andyben said:

Not for much longer....👀

Is the takeover paperwork in the same mail as my coat? 

[Andyben]

🙄

[Chelters]

Saturday 4 December 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Liverpool (home)

 

With a good run of form under their belts, the Owls faced Liverpool for the second time this season, having of course been beaten 2-0 at Anfield on the opening day of the season, with Carlton Palmer being sent off after only 15 minutes.

 

Wednesday were able to name an unchanged side from the League Cup midweek win at QPR, whilst the visitors selected no fewer than four future Owls in their side. And as the programme put it, there was to be an ‘early Christmas gift’ for the home side.

 

The Owls got off to a strong start and took the game to the Merseysiders, with Bruce Grobbelaar performing heroics on two occasions . First, Nigel Jemson met a flick on from Chris Bart-Williams with a firm  header, but the keeper saved on the line. Then the Zimbabwean produced an ever better save, tipping over a fierce drive from the in-form Ryan Jones. Certainly no home win in the plan for Grobbelaar in this one.....

 

Wednesday deservedly took the lead on the half hour. Nigel Worthington was sent away down the left by Bart-Williams and crossed for Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock to slash the ball into his own net. The Owls thoroughly deserved their lead but were to be brought back down to earth eight minutes later with almost their first real attack of the game. Rob Jones (not that one) found space down the right and his cross was finished by Robbie Fowler. 

 

The visitors’ goal, completely against the run of play, clearly shocked the Owls and Liverpool took the initiative, only being denied a half-time lead by a Kevin Pressman save from John Barnes’s volley.

 

Wednesday were able to rally at half time and started playing their football again. Graham Hyde and Mark Bright had already been denied by Grobbelaar before he was finally beaten for the second time on 58 minutes, and once again it was by one of his own defenders. This time Chris Waddle was the architect, racing clear from Jemson’s flick-on and firing in a low cross which Mark Wright stretched to intercept. With Grobbelaar anticipating the cross evading Wright, he was totally wrong-footed as the ball rolled slowly from Wright’s stretched prod into the bottom corner in a way somewhat reminiscent of Lee Gregory’s play-off goal against Peterborough. 

 

The Owls remained in control but almost presented a Christmas gift of their own when Hyde headed against his own post, but at the other end there were more chances going begging before the game was finally put to bed with 10 minutes to go. Substitute Adem Poric sent Bright through, and the Wednesday striker cleverly nodded the bouncing ball over Grobbelaar before running round the keeper and slotting the ball into the empty Kop net.

 

This was a sixth win in seven in all competitions, and Wednesday were very much climbing the table, now up to 12th, whilst the visitors were stuck in mid-table. 

 

Final score : Wednesday 3-1 Liverpool

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Palmer, Walker, Waddle, Bart-Williams (Poric 71), Hyde, Jones, Jemson (Coleman 79), Bright. Unused sub : Key

 

Liverpool : Grobbelaar, Jones, Harkness, Wright, Ruddock, Nicol (Walters 79), Barnes, Molby, Matteo (Rush 69), Clough, Fowler. Unused sub : James

 

Attendance : 32,177
 

[mkowl]

The OGs were hilarious. The 2nd one in particular was proper slow motion stuff as you knew it was going in but seemed to take an age.

The daft thing, if we ever played Liverpool these days the pre match noise would be horrendous. Don't recall any thing in that regard. The focus was more that we thoroughly deserved to win.

 

[Andyben]

Because it was seen as an awful tradegy  an accident before all the politicised bollocks made it something different 

[Owling_Wolf]

On 30/11/2023 at 23:36, HarrySpeakup said:

I was on a course in Manchester that week and I had to drive back to Hollingsworth on the woodhead road to get a signal in the car from radio Sheffield 

 

"Ullo, allo allo. Wot you up to here then, Sir?"

"Really, Sir? And you expect me to believe that, do you?  Sarge, come and listen to this!!"    

😁

 

 

[Lee]

When I lived in Cheshire I could get radio Sheffield from car radio. Often took a few cans out to the drive to listen to match commentary much to the distain of the then Wife!!!

[Chelters]

Wednesday 8 December 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Aston Villa (away)

 

Wednesday’s schedule was certainly keeping them (and, 30 years later, me) busy as they set off for the trip to Villa Park on a good run of form, but still carrying a number of injuries. The two sides had met in the second game of the season in a disappointing 0-0 draw, but both teams went into this one confident of getting a win.

 

Villa were, of course, managed by erstwhile Owls boss Ron Atkinson who, whilst attitudes had maybe softened slightly in the intervening two years, was still seen as a Judas amongst the Wednesday faithful. He was doing a decent job at Villa though, and had steered them to second place in the first Premier League season in 1992-93.

 

This game was to played in cold, blustery conditions, not exactly conducive to the Owls’ flowing football, and it certainly seemed to have a bearing on the performance on the night.

 

The first half was a fairly even affair but it was Villa who came flying out of the blocks, almost scoring in just the second minute when Kevin Pressman made a fantastic stop from Ray Houghton. But it was the Owls who were take the lead midway through the first half when Chris Waddle played the ball in to Nigel Jemson in the box, he in turn set Chris Bart-Williams in for a confident left foot finish past Mark Bosnich.

 

Dean Saunders had another good chance for the hosts but they eventually (and probably deservedly) got level when a swirling corner was headed home by Neil Cox.

 

Villa had the wind behind them in the second half and took the game to Wednesday. They took the lead through a penalty when Dalian Atkinson was brought down in the box by Roland Nilsson, Saunders converting the ensuing spot kick.

 

Wednesday gradually managed to get themselves back into the game and were rewarded after 70 minutes with an equaliser. Nilsson made up for the Villa penalty by getting down the right in true Roland fashion and crossing for the moustachioed Shaun Teale to divert the ball past his own keeper. After the comedy of the Liverpool game, it was the third own goal in two games in the Owls’ favour.

 

Wednesday then had the better of the chances through Carlton Palmer and Bart-Williams, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result and Wednesday were reasonably satisfied with a point in the difficult conditions.

 

Final score Villa 1-1 Wednesday

 

Villa : Bosnich, Barrett, Cox, McGrath, Teale, Houghton, Beinlich, Cowans, Parker, Atkinson, Saunders. Unused subs : Ehiogu, Whittingham, Spink

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Palmer, Walker, Waddle, Bart-Williams (Coleman 86), Hyde, Jones, Jemson, Bright. Unused subs : Poric, Key

 

Attendance : 20,304

[HoylandOwl]

15 hours ago, Chelters said:

Wednesday 8 December 1993

FA Carling Premiership

Aston Villa (away)

 

Wednesday’s schedule was certainly keeping them (and, 30 years later, me) busy as they set off for the trip to Villa Park on a good run of form, but still carrying a number of injuries. The two sides had met in the second game of the season in a disappointing 0-0 draw, but both teams went into this one confident of getting a win.

 

Villa were, of course, managed by erstwhile Owls boss Ron Atkinson who, whilst attitudes had maybe softened slightly in the intervening two years, was still seen as a Judas amongst the Wednesday faithful. He was doing a decent job at Villa though, and had steered them to second place in the first Premier League season in 1992-93.

 

This game was to played in cold, blustery conditions, not exactly conducive to the Owls’ flowing football, and it certainly seemed to have a bearing on the performance on the night.

 

The first half was a fairly even affair but it was Villa who came flying out of the blocks, almost scoring in just the second minute when Kevin Pressman made a fantastic stop from Ray Houghton. But it was the Owls who were take the lead midway through the first half when Chris Waddle played the ball in to Nigel Jemson in the box, he in turn set Chris Bart-Williams in for a confident left foot finish past Mark Bosnich.

 

Dean Saunders had another good chance for the hosts but they eventually (and probably deservedly) got level when a swirling corner was headed home by Neil Cox.

 

Villa had the wind behind them in the second half and took the game to Wednesday. They took the lead through a penalty when Dalian Atkinson was brought down in the box by Roland Nilsson, Saunders converting the ensuing spot kick.

 

Wednesday gradually managed to get themselves back into the game and were rewarded after 70 minutes with an equaliser. Nilsson made up for the Villa penalty by getting down the right in true Roland fashion and crossing for the moustachioed Shaun Teale to divert the ball past his own keeper. After the comedy of the Liverpool game, it was the third own goal in two games in the Owls’ favour.

 

Wednesday then had the better of the chances through Carlton Palmer and Bart-Williams, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result and Wednesday were reasonably satisfied with a point in the difficult conditions.

 

Final score Villa 1-1 Wednesday

 

Villa : Bosnich, Barrett, Cox, McGrath, Teale, Houghton, Beinlich, Cowans, Parker, Atkinson, Saunders. Unused subs : Ehiogu, Whittingham, Spink

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Palmer, Walker, Waddle, Bart-Williams (Coleman 86), Hyde, Jones, Jemson, Bright. Unused subs : Poric, Key

 

Attendance : 20,304

It was bastard freezing that night in the wind, the sponsor hoardings on the top of the away end were flapping in the wind IIRC.

I do remember though that in typical WMP fashion, they were particularly twats. The missis used to go to games with me back then (pre kids!), and she was threatened with being booted out of the ground for gesticulating… 

She was…. Pointing out to the coppers that the hoarding above our heads was looking likely to come off. Not calling them w***ers. (Although….)

Needless to say, I just used it as a way to give her lots of shit for being a hooligan. And still do. 

[HarrySpeakup]

"Final score Villa 1-1 Wednesday"

2-2 surely Chelt

 

[JBO]

Someone messed with his 2-2

[Chelters]

6 hours ago, HarrySpeakup said:

"Final score Villa 1-1 Wednesday"

2-2 surely Chelt

 

Yeah not sure what happened there!

[Chelters]

Sunday 12 December 1993           

FA Carling Premiership

Arsenal (away)

 

On the back of a 13 match unbeaten run, the Owls arrived on a dark winter’s afternoon at Highbury to take on their nemesis, Arsenal. It was the 6thmeeting between the two clubs in that calendar year, and it was certainly the Londoners who had had the better of it so far.

 

Wednesday were without Chris Waddle due to a bout of flu, and his replacement in the lineup was somewhat unexpected, with Nigel Worthington being pushed forward to wide midfield (a role he was not unfamiliar with) and Simon Coleman coming in for his full debut at left back. The hosts, meanwhile, had plenty of familiar faces in their team, including the constant thorn in the side that was Ian Wright. 

 

So, with a number of players out, difficult opponents, and the fact that they had conceded 14 goals at Highbury in their previous three visits, this did not shape itself up as being the most promising of afternoons. And then there was, of course, the presence of Sky’s cameras to add to the bad omens.

 

However, the Owls were in confident mood and took the game to their hosts, with Chris Bart-Williams in particular putting in an impressive performance. In the first half Worthington was twice denied by the Gunners’ young keeper Alan Miller. Just before the break, Nigel Jemson broke clear from the half way line after robbing Lee Dixon but saw his effort blocked. The hosts had offered little in reply, with Des Walker and Carlton Palmer keeping them, and Wright in particular, quiet.

 

In the second half there were more missed chances. Jemson was unlucky to slip after being put through by Bart-Williams, and Mark Bright spurned two chances, one with a tame shot at Miller and the other a volley wide after being set up by sub Adem Poric. Arsenal’s only real threat was from set pieces, with Kevin Pressman saving from an Alan Smith header.

 

There was no doubt who was the better team, but as the clock ticked through the first minute of injury time, the inevitable happened. Wright found a bit of a space and finished sharply from the only sniff of goal he had had all game, and once again it was ‘one-nil to the Arsenal’.

 

So, for the 4th time in 1993, the superior football and ability of the Owls had been snuffed out by the tactics of footballing Luddite George Graham, and the unbeaten run was over. It was frustrating to say the least, but the next game was to more than make up for it....

 

Final score : Arsenal 1-0 Wednesday

 

Arsenal : Miller, Dixon, Morrow, Adams, Keown (Bould 57), Merson (Campbell 80), Jensen, Selley, Limpar, Smith, Wright. Unused sub : Will

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Coleman, Palmer, Walker, Bart-Williams (Pearce 89), Worthington, Hyde, Jones, Jemson (Poric 80), Bright. Unused sub : Key

 

Attendance : 22,025

 

 

 

[HoylandOwl]

I hated Arsenal back then, and still do because of this period. 

[Owling_Wolf]

On 12/12/2023 at 07:54, HoylandOwl said:

I hated Arsenal back then, and still do because of this period. 

And especially their manager!   😡

[Chelters]

Saturday 18 December 1993

FA Carling Premiership

West Ham United (home)

 

Some games go down in Sheffield Wednesday folklore due to the significance of the occasion, and some just due to a great performance and result. This one was not particularly significant in the grand scheme of things, but it was a game that Wednesdayites of a certain vintage will always remember. This was a one-man show the like of which we have rarely seen either before or since, and a privilege for those who were there to see the kind of mercurial performance of one of the greatest players to pull on the blue and white. Yes, this was the ‘Waddle game’.

 

The Owls came into this, the last fixture before Christmas, having suffered a sickening last minute defeat in the previous game to Arsenal, ending a 13 match unbeaten run. But there was to be no feeling sorry for themselves as Wednesday got their form back in some style.

 

Waddle had missed the Arsenal game with flu and returned to the side in place of Simon Coleman, with Nigel Worthington switching back to left back, although the in-form Ryan Jones was missing. The visitors were in similar mid-table territory to Wednesday, and lined up with ex-Hillsborough hero Lee Chapman up front.

 

The first half was actually a fairly even and open affair, and it took 34 minutes for the Owls to get off the mark. Inevitably it was Waddle that did the damage, jinking this way and that on the right wing at the Leppings Lane end before sending a right foot cross over to the far post. Andy Pearce headed against the bar but as the ball came down it hit the unfortunate Mike Marsh and rolled into the net for an own goal, Ludek Miklosko failing to scramble it clear.

 

Having made the breakthrough, Wednesday started to play with confidence, with Nigel Jemson and Chris Bart-Williams both going close before half time.

 

Shortly into the second half, Waddle received the ball on the right wing and this time rather than taking on his man he clipped a lovely ball into the box for Mark Bright, who controlled the ball with his first touch and slammed it into the roof of the net with his second. A few minutes later it was three, Palmer did well to retain possession and feed Jemson, his lay-off found Waddle who let fly with a powerful low shot from 30 yards that flew into the Kop net.

 

The extra breathing space from a three goal lead allowed the Owls to play with confidence and a bit of cockiness. Chapman had the only real chance for the visitors but couldn’t put his header on target, and Marsh took out his frustration with a clattering of Kevin Pressman.

 

Soon it was four, Waddle again going down the right and brilliantly finding his way between two challenges and into the area, then knocking in a low ball for Jemson to finish from close range. Wednesday were in full flow now and were able to pass the ball around to the ‘oles’ of the crowd and show off some skills. Waddle and Bart-Williams were in their element and even Worthington got in on the act at one point with a little Rabona near the North Stand. 

 

The final goal came three minutes from time, Roland Nilsson winning the ball and sending Palmer through for a prodded finish past Miklosko. Unfortunately the game had to finish before the Owls could add to the score. The Hammers must have been delighted to hear the final whistle, particularly poor David Burrows who had truly had a Nightmare before Christmas, whilst Wednesday walked in a Waddle Wonderland.

 

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

Final score : Wednesday 5-0 West Ham

 

Wednesday : Pressman, Nilsson, Worthington, Pearce, Walker, Waddle, Bart-Williams, Hyde, Palmer, Jemson, Bright. Unused subs : Poric, Watson, Woods

 

West Ham : Miklosko, Breacker, Burrows, Gale, Potts, Marsh, Holmes (Boere 67), Butler, Bishop (Allen 75), Morley, Chapman. Unused sub : Peyton

 

Attendance : 26,350

 

[Lee]

I was eagerly awaiting this one!!

[Sparkowl]

David Burrows...oh dear, what a mare he had that day. Totally forgot that Lee Chapman was playing for them that match.