Liam Palmer’s testimonial match against La Liga side Leganes ended in a goalless draw in the Hillsborough sunshine this afternoon.
As well as giving Wednesday fans the chance to salute Liam’s remarkable record of 435 appearances (and counting!) for the club, it was also an opportunity for them to get a good look at Danny Rohl’s reshaped squad and a chance to see some of his summer recruits in action just one week away from the Championship kick off.
The Owls looked the more dangerous of the two sides in the first half, Anthony Musaba off target with an early chance and Josh Windass dragging his shot wide from the edge of the box after a promising break.
James Beadle was rarely called into action at the other end in the first 45 minutes and Djeidi Gassama and Windass both tested Leganes keeper Juan Soriano at the start of the second half.
Jamal Lowe, who looked lively up front, brought a fine save out of Soriano on the hour and might have had a penalty when he looked to have been brought down in the box.
Leganes hit back with Diego Garcia’s effort coming back off a post and, almost immediately, Beadle saved well from the same player.
Bailey Cadamarteri and Charlie McNeill replaced Windass and Lowe as the game wore on before Palmer sent a 25-yard free kick over the Kop bar.
That was just about his last action for the day, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the 10,000-plus crowd and being subbed by Rio Shipston.
Gabriel Otegbayo came on for Gassama in a final change for Wednesday and, with the energy levels not surprisingly dipping in the closing stages, the game ended goalless.
Danny Rohl said beforehand that he wanted a competitive warm-up match and, even allowing for it being a friendly, it proved to be a more than useful workout against decent opposition.
There were promising signs of good movement, sharp passing and improved teamwork from Wednesday and more of a cutting edge up front would have likely seen us celebrating Liam’s big day with a victory.
Beadle, Valery, Iorfa, Famewo, M Lowe, Palmer (Shipston 81), Bannan, Gassama (Otegbayo 84), Musaba, Windass (McNeill 74), J Lowe (Cadamarteri 74). Unused subs: Charles, Hall, Flannery, Maltby, Fernandes, Buchan, Reed, Paterson, Wilks.