Wednesday took a fortunate point from a 1-1 draw with Preston at storm-hit Hillsborough today.
We looked lethargic from the start and, while the second-half display was marginally better than the woeful first 45 minutes, we could count ourselves extremely lucky to have escaped with a draw on the day.
There’s no doubt we missed the creativity and inspiration of the suspended Barry Bannan and we just could not get a grip of the game, the point stretching our run to just one defeat in the last six league games but with just three home victories from 10 outings at S6 so far this season.
Josh Windass sent an early header over the bar but Preston looked the far sharper side in the opening stages with James Beadle producing a good save to deny Kaine Kesler-Hayden when he broke clear.
However, we fell behind on 13 minutes when Yan Valery failed to pick up Mads Frokjaer from a quick throw-in down the Preston left and when Frokjaer sent in a low cross, Emil Riis was there to turn the ball home from inside the six-yard box.
It could easily have been 2-0 five minutes later when only the outstretched leg of Beadle prevented Riis from doubling the lead from close range.
Wednesday looked largely lifeless and devoid of any creativity or desire as Preston continued to dominate before Windass brought a save out of Freddie Woodman from the edge of the box on the half-hour.
Michael Smith shot wide from eight yards out and then Djeidi Gassama’s angled effort was off target as we finally showed a hint of an attacking threat.
A clearly unhappy Danny Rohl made three changes at half time but it was the same old story within four minutes of the restart with the unmarked Brad Potts shooting wide at the far post from just six yards out, although credit to Beadle for spreading himself to put off the Preston man.
Then, two minutes later, Wednesday were handed a lifeline from the penalty spot after Pol Valentin was brought down in the box by Kesler-Hayden.
Windass, rather than usual penalty taker Smith, stepped up for the spot kick but his weak effort was kept out by the diving Woodman, who also saved the follow-up.
The dangerous Riis shot wide of the far post before Wednesday grabbed an unlikely equaliser 15 minutes from time, Anthony Musaba pulling the ball across goal and Smith slotting home from eight yards.
However, any hopes of another winning Wednesday fightback never materialised and it was Preston who went closest to taking all three points when Ali McCann sent in a dangerous low cross but there was no team-mate on hand to take advantage.
Beadle, Valery, Bernard, M Lowe, Johnson, Valery (Inglesson 46), S Charles (Chalobah 72), Palmer (Musaba 46), Windass ( J Lowe 65), Ugbo (Valentin 46), Smith. Unused subs: P. Charles, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, McNeill. Att: 23,927.