Wednesday survived a disallowed Swansea goal in added time to take the first point of Tony Pulis’ managerial reign in a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium tonight.
After looking the better side in the first half and taking the lead through Adam Reach’s first goal of the season, it was Swansea who dominated the second half and Andre Ayew hit their leveller.
Then came the late, late drama when Kasey Palmer netted with an overhead kick after an almighty scramble from a corner, only for ref Andy Woolmer to rule out the goal, seemingly for handball by Ayew but, according to Swansea boss Steve Cooper, apparently for a foul on Joe Wildsmith.
With bottom club Derby losing at Middlesbrough, we edge a point clear of the Rams but stay in 23rd place, two adrift of Wycombe and five points behind Coventry in 21st after they defeated Cardiff.
We were the better side in the first half, showing some good passing movements and team work, and went close to going ahead on 10 minutes when the ball fell to Julian Borner in the box but his powerful effort was straight at keeper Freddie Woodman.
Three minutes later we lost Keiren Westwood, the recently recalled keeper suffering a groin injury after stretching for a Liam Cullen cross and having to be replaced by Wildsmith.
However, we continued to look the more likely side and took the lead after 26 minutes with a ‘training ground’ set piece. Barry Bannan sent in a low corner and Adam Reach lost his marker in a run to the near post to fire past Woodman from 10 yards for an excellent opener.
It was always likely that Swansea would be better after the break and so it proved, with sub Ayew putting them back on level terms on the hour. Joost van Aken stood off the striker as he dribbled into the box and the Swansea dangerman drove fiercely past Wildsmith.
We didn’t trouble Swansea in the second period as an attacking force and they twice went close to taking the lead at the other end, with Yan Dhanda just off target on both occasions.
Wildsmith had to tip over a long-ranger from Ayew in injury time and there was still time for that ‘goal’ controversy as Palmer netted … but ref Woolmer came to our rescue and preserved a point for us to take back to S6.
Westwood (Wildsmith 13), Odubajo, Borner, Lees, van Aken (Shaw 69), Palmer, Bannan, Luongo (Pelupessy 69), Reach, Paterson, Rhodes (Kachunga 55). Unused subs. Hunt, Penney, Dele-Bashiru, Brown, Urhoghide.