Match Report 2001-2002

Monday 17 September, 2001, Division One

Sheffield Wednesday Away

The mysteries of the unexplained

It will be the mystery of the season, how did City not plaster Sheffield Wednesday tonight.

Like UFOs and the Lizard conspiracy to rule the world people will trade rumour and whisper in corners and wonder, how can a team be so dominant, be so far ahead in terms of play, and not claim all three points?

It will also be a mystery as to how Benito Carbone only ended up with a single goal after a seventy minute virtuoso display that tore his former team apart on his first return to Hillsborough. Of course he was booed with every touch, of course he scored after Andy Tod, again in the place of Ashley Ward, robbed Carlton Palmer on the touchline, fed Gareth Whalley who popped it to Carbone to knock into the top corner of Kevin Pressman's goal. It should have been the first of many, it was not. Who know why?

See also: The Bermuda triangle.

Kevin Pressman had a role in it. He was outstanding, the crowning moment of a display that saw him more trampolineist than footballer batting away shot and rebound came when he managed three fine saves in a ten second spell and ended with City's Italian in front of him applauding.

City had over worked Wednesday from the kick off. Every ball from the Owls back four presented the hard working Bantams with a chance to close down, to grab the ball back. City seemed in a rush to finish the game off to allow a stroll for the final thirty in preparation for Thursday night and Forest. That they did not achieve this is, as I said, a mystery that will play on the mid of Jim Jefferies.

See also: The Loch Ness Monster.

Perhaps some of the answer is the absence of Ashley Ward. Andy Tod redefines hard work and has got City out of a hole with his stint as centreforward (Imagine the last few games with Gareth Grant) but his energy is not matched by Ward's class and ability. With Ward City man have had the win in the first half. Tod lacks the movement of Ward who hopefully should return for Thursday night.

Credit Tod with his work tonight. Together with Beni the Owls back line was chasing shadows and opening up for midfield runs. Case in point was after City's opener when Gary Locke crossed to Gareth Whalley who's left footed drive was saved by Pressman. Whalley and Locke enjoyed untold space and exploited it to some effect but not enough to take the win.

All this said it was very hard to see how City's one goal lead would be pulled back by the umambitious Owls who rarely threatened City's back line, Efan Ekoku having gone off early leaving the home side without an aerial presence. One nil would have been a disappointment on dominance, anything less was unfathomable.

See also: The Abdominal Snowman.

A slip at the back Robert Molenaar heads back poorly for Michele Di Piedi to finished. This was supposed to be about our Italian.

All this had come part through fortune, if you can call having a centreforward injured that, that saw the speedy Di Piedi make more of the Halle/Wetherall/Molenaar/Jacobs line (Average age 32) than Ekoku ever could and part from a timely tactical change from Peter Shreeves that saw him plug huge gaps in the Owls line up.

That change along with an evenings hard running did for Carbone save a few flicks, a slice in half by Danny Maddix and a thirty yard curled shot that almost give Beni a dream return. Instead the Italian left the field deep in conversation with countryman Di Piedi. What is Italian for "Spawny Buggars?"

Man of the Match

Benito Carbone

A superb display overall although perhaps he should have scored more than the one. Credit Kevin Pressman in the Wednesday goal, the best Sheffield Wednesday player on the night.

City Team:

Walsh
Halle Wetherall Molenaar Jacobs
Locke McCall Whalley
Jess Tod Carbone

Subs: Blake and Lawrence for Jess and Locke. Myers for Jacobs.