Sheffield Wednesday fans just can’t get enough of Giles Coke at the moment. Many knew little about the midfield man when he joined the club on a free transfer in the close season but his energetic start to the season has proved to be the difference in the Owls home games so far.
His deflected shot got the season off and running in the opening game of the campaign against Dagenham & Redbridge, his solo effort saw off Bury in the League Cup and yesterday his well taken goal proved to be the difference against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Both sides came into Saturday’s clash with 4 points from two games and the form of Gus Poyet’s side, particularly away from the Withdean Stadium, suggested this would be Wednesday’s toughest game to date. Alan Irvine made changes to his starting line up for the first time in the league this season, Clinton Morrison didn’t make the squad due to a niggling injury and was replaced by Neil Mellor and Darren Potter started in central midfield at the expense of James O’Connor.
Wednesday started well with Teale and Spurr combining to good effect down the left but they were unable to carve out a clear cut opportunity and the visitors gradually began to get into the game. A snapshot from distance by Brighton midfielder Bennett seemed to take Weaver by surprise in the Wednesday goal and although they enjoyed a good spell of possession after a shaky start the Seagulls looked unlikely to break down the resolute home defence.
Spurr almost picked out Mellor in the penalty area as the striker went down under the challenge of Adam El-Abd with his penalty appeals falling on deaf ears. Mellor reacted petulantly to the incident by pushing the defender in the chest and the defender went down as if he had been shot by a sniper, earning the Owls man a booking in the process.
A precise but tame free-kick from Bennett was routinely held by Weaver and with half-time approaching the home side made the breakthrough. A deflected pass from Teale was well controlled by Coke in a central area 25 yards out. The midfielder then played a neat one-two with Tudgay before curling a sublime finish from the edge of the box past Ankergren in the Seagulls goal.
Jamie Smith saw an effort hit the outside of a post as the half drew to a close with the Owls just shading it.
Both sides went close in an entertaining opening to the second half as Smith clipped the top of a bar with a 1st tap shot from inside the penalty area and Coke saw a rasping drive tipped over as Albion reacted slowly to a short corner.
Alan Irvine has discussed the need for the Owls to make better starts to the second half but Brighton created another good opening in the early stages of the second period as striker Glenn Murray’s shot across goal went just wide, though it appeared Weaver may have got a vital touch to help it on its way.
Tudgay almost found the target with a looping header after Buxton had crossed from the right but Wednesday may have been a little fortunate after around 60 minutes as Sedgwick saw yellow for a two-footed lunge on Marcos Painter. Fortunately Sedgwick got plenty of the ball in a challenge that was reckless rather than nasty otherwise he could easily have seen red.
The Owls finished the game in the ascendancy as the threat from the visitors was nullified, O, Connor and Mellor should both have done better with headers that went over the bar and the latter also saw a well struck long range strike go just over the top.
Brighton had dubious a dubious penalty appeal waved away late on as Buxton recovered ground to prevent a shot and goal and at the other end substitute Heffernan fired wastefully wide with Teale crying out for the ball unmarked to his left in the penalty area.
Wednesday’s well organised approach saw them home to another three points despite perhaps not performing to a level that they would like consistently enough. Having said that, the Owls look solid at the back and created more chances on goal than a Brighton side that looked confident in possession and had plenty of the ball.
Alan Irvine’s side must now look to take the winning formula that they have found at Hillsborough into back to back away matches starting with the midweek Carling Cup tie at Scunthorpe before travelling to Hartlepool in the league next weekend.