Sturrock’s Owls swoop to end ‘years in the doldrums’

Sheffield Wednesday 4 Hartlepool 2

Jon-Paul McGovern fired Wednesday ahead but second-half goals from Eifion Williams and Jon Daly put Hartlepool on course for victory.

Then Owls substitute Steve MacLean equalised from the penalty spot eight minutes from the end of normal time after Chris Westwood had been sent off for pulling back Drew Talbot, and Glenn Whelan and Talbot both scored in extra time to seal it for Wednesday.

"These people have had years of being in the doldrums," said a jubilant Sturrock during the post-match celebrations.

"There were 40,000-plus Wednesday fans here today. The atmosphere was unbelievable. We just hope they are all there at the start of next season.

"The coaching staff have worked so hard over the last nine months and we've now got to get ourselves ready for the Championship."

Sturrock admitted he had feared the worst when Wednesday trailed 2-1 but the penalty decision threw them a lifeline.

"We got the penalty and got ourselves back into the game," he said. "We had a bit of luck which left them down to 10 men.

"But this is a young team that tries hard and we were still digging deep in injury time (at the end of extra time)."

MacLean had no nerves about taking the penalty which earned extra-time for Wednesday.

The former Rangers striker has been out injured since March but returned to fitness in time to win a place on the bench yesterday but showed no sign of rustiness as he tucked away the equaliser.

He said: "When I got the penalty I was quite confident about taking it. To be fair, I started running last Thursday so it was a big gamble and it's paid off just thanks to the manager, he took a gamble on me."

McGovern, who scored the opener, was also thrilled with his goal. He said: "I don't score too many so to get one like that on such a big occasion is amazing. All I wanted to do was hit it and I just smacked it with my left foot."

HARTLEPOOL: Konstantopoulos, Nelson, Westwood, Robson, Butler (Williams 31), Barron (Craddock 61), Strachan, Porter (Daly 70), Sweeney, Boyd, Humphreys.

SHEFF WED: Lucas, Bullen, Heckingbottom, Wood, Alex Bruce (Collins 77), Whelan, McGovern, Brunt, Rocastle, Peacock (Talbot 77), Quinn (MacLean 77).

Referee: P Crossley (Kent).