Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City. Sky Bet Championship.
Hillsborough.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City at Hillsborough as Julian Borner gives the Owls the lead, but Tyreeq Bakinson scores late equaliser for 10-man Robins
Saturday 17 April 2021 16:36, UK
Sheffield Wednesday's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Championship suffered another damaging blow as Tyreeq Bakinson's late leveller earned 10-man Bristol City a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.
Defeats for Rotherham and Derby had given the Owls, without manager Darren Moore who is suffering from pneumonia triggered by his contraction of Covid-19, a chance to cut the gap.
They made the perfect start when Julian Borner put them ahead in the fourth minute and they were given a further boost as the Robins had Henri Lansbury sent off for deliberate handball.
Wednesday failed to capitalise as captain Barry Bannan saw his spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Daniel Bentley but they held on to their lead until three minutes from time when Bakinson struck.
A third game without a win left the Owls seven points adrift of 21st-placed Derby with just four matches remaining.
Led by assistant manager Jamie Smith in the absence of Moore, the hosts broke the deadlock with their first chance of the afternoon when Borner headed home Josh Windass's delivery from close range.
In what was a fast-paced start to the game, the visitors searched for an instant equaliser and the recalled Famara Diedhiou tested Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood down low with a half volley.
Drama followed as Lansbury was sent off by referee Tony Harrington in the 20th minute after the midfielder gave away a penalty for denying Callum Paterson's goalbound shot with his hand.
Bannan stepped up to the plate but missed the resulting spot-kick, with Bentley diving the right way.
Wednesday went close again to doubling their advantage but Liam Palmer's rocket shot crashed against a post from the edge of the area.
Windass then headed onto the roof of the net with the interval imminent as the Owls dominated.
Wednesday's momentum continued as Windass went alone after the re-start. Ignoring options to his left, the attacking midfielder's strike trickled through a sea of red and into the arms of Bentley.
Kadeem Harris was next to cause the Robins backline problems but he was unable to find the back of the net from Adam Reach's cross as Bentley was quick off his line to narrow the angle.
Bakinson drove an effort high over the crossbar with just over a quarter of an hour to go as the Owls were forced to absorb a period of pressure.
But Bakinson found an unlikely equaliser in the 87th minute, firing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Sheffield Wednesday's assistant manager Jamie Smith: "It feels like a defeat. I know it's a point but it's not enough. Looking at the chances, we should have won the game. We started really well but [Bristol City] going down to 10 men probably affected us more than it affected them. Barry is obviously disappointed but there's no blame in missing the penalty because it happens. The penalty miss wasn't the reason why we didn't win the game. It was other chances as well that could have settled it.
"We had enough chances to win the game and that makes it feel like it was a defeat more than a draw. Until relegation is mathematically impossible, we'll keep fighting still. How else do you expect us to be? We can't just give up and not turn up. We still have to work. We could have controlled the game better. It's just taking the chances that are there. We knew before that this was a big one for us that we needed to win. We haven't won and we look to move on and win on Tuesday night."
Bristol City's Nigel Pearson: "I have questioned and other people have questioned our commitment at times but this was an example of the type of response we needed. Decisions didn't always go our way and the penalty is an example of that. He didn't touch it but I understand why it was given. In real-time it looks that way. These things happen and players responded in the right way.
"It's a tough time for Wednesday and with Darren not being here as well. I feel for them. I still have a lot of fondness for the club. It was a big part of mine and my family's lives so I don't get a lot of satisfaction from coming here and contributing to what is a tough situation. Tyreeq showed the right response and that's by performing. What we have to remember he is still a very young player. He was very good."
