Reach hits Christmas cracker as Owls take point at Blackburn

Adam Reach’s cracking 25-yarder put us ahead at Blackburn this afternoon … only for Wednesday to lose a lead for the fifth time in Tony Pulis’ 10-game reign and have to settle for a 1-1 draw.

The result sees us staying one place off the bottom on 13 points but getting to within three points of Derby in 22nd after their late defeat to Preston and moving us a point clear of Wycombe at the foot of the table.

Our goal came on 41 minutes when two Blackburn defenders made a hash of a clearance from Barry Bannan’s speculative pass and Reach took full advantage, picking up the loose ball and sending an outstanding long-ranger curling high into the corner of the net.

Josh Windass shot across goal and wide soon afterwards and, while Reach’s effort was our only shot on target in the whole game, Blackburn rarely troubled Keiren Westwood in the first 45 minutes despite their dominance.

We began the second half more promisingly, Windass firing off target from 15 yards after his initial effort was blocked and Reach dragging his shot wide of the near post when he would have been better shooting across goal.

Rovers soon began to dominate possession again and Adam Armstrong almost brought them level on 65 minutes when his snapshot came back off the post.

However, ten minutes later it was 1-1 when Joe Rothwell picked the ball up some 30 yards from goal, drifted past several Wednesday players without a challenging tackle and shot low past Westwood.

We survived another scare soon afterwards when Ben Bretherton appeared to be pushed in the back by Reach as he shaped to shoot from close range.

At the other end, we looked to have regained the lead 10 minutes from time when Tom Lees headed home Callum Paterson’s cross at the far post but it was ruled out, presumably for offside.

That led to another nervy closing spell as Rovers pressed for a winner but we held on for a point that most Wednesday fans would have settled for before kick off.

Westwood, Palmer, Dunkley, Lees, Van Aken (Shaw 69), Odubajo, Pelupessy, Bannan, Reach (Harris 82), Paterson, Windass (Brown 87). Unused subs. Wildsmith, Penney, Dele-Bashiru, Hunt, Kachunga, Rhodes.

 

 

 

 

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