A late equaliser from Djeidi Gassama and a last-gasp reflex save from debutant keeper Pierce Charles earnt Wednesday a replay after a 1-1 draw with Coventry in the FA Cup fourth round clash at Hillsborough this evening.
With Championship survival the number one priority we could have done without another game in a busy schedule but a draw against one of the division’s in-form sides, coupled with our more aggressive approach compared to Saturday’s league performance against the same opposition, will hopefully act as a confidence-booster in the way ahead.
The pace of Gassama posed our major threat to Coventry in the first half and he had our best effort of the opening 45 minutes, firing just wide with a low 25-yarder.
The visitors had looked dangerous with their fast breakaways and, just when it looked like being a goalless first half, they took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Victor Torp ran at the Wednesday defence and with, nobody shutting him down, he unleashed a fierce long-ranger which flew past Charles and into the roof of the Kop net.
We almost levelled within five minutes of the restart, Ike Ugbo’s fierce shot from the edge of the box thundering off a post with keeper Ben Wilson beaten and the same player went close again soon afterwards when his close-range snapshot was just too high.
Coventry were less of a threat compared to the first half and the tie looked to be petering out to a narrow win for the visitors before the game sparked back into life in the closing stages.
With six minutes of normal time remaining, Gassama cut in from the left-hand side and sent a low 15-yard shot between Wilson and his near post to level matters.
Spurred on by the equaliser, Wednesday then twice went close to a winner with both chances falling to Ashley Fletcher.
First, Barry Bannan’s through ball caused problems in the Coventry defence but Fletcher’s effort was blocked and when Michael Smith headed down in the box Fletcher was again foiled.
Then, in the final minute of added time, Charles was the hero at the other end with a fine stop from Jamie Allen’s fierce effort to ensure Wednesday a place in Sunday afternoon’s fifth round draw.
Wednesday: Charles, Valentin (Siqueira 81), Bernard, Famewo, Johnson, Gassama, M.Diaby (Palmer 81), Bannan, Musaba (Wilks 73), Cadamarteri (Fletcher 73), Ugbo (Smith 61). Unused subs: Hall, Vaulks, B.Diaby, Reed. Attendance: 14,215.