Sheffield Wednesday win promotion to Championship

Hartlepool 2 Sheffield Wednesday 4 (after extra-time)

Sheffield Wednesday are back in the top tier of the Football League after recording a 4-2 victory over 10-man Hartlepool in a pulsating afternoon at the Millennium Stadium.

Wednesday’s recent history is scarred with disappointment but this was a day to remember for everyone associated with the club.

The Yorkshire club were rewarded for an admirable first-half showing with Jon-Paul McGovern’s opening goal in stoppage time but Hartlepool were transformed after the interval and made it 1-1 courtesy of substitute Eifion Williams.

The game turned on its head when Jon Daly headed Martin Scott’s side into the lead within 60 seconds of his arrival from off the substitutes’ bench.

A game that ebbed and flowed swung back in the favour of Wednesday once Chris Westwood was sent off for a foul on substitute Drew Talbot in the penalty box.

Steve MacLean, who had been sidelined for three months with an ankle injury, fired home the resulting spot-kick from off the bench before Whelan made it 3-2 with a superb left-foot drive in extra-time.

Talbot completed the scoring in a remarkable game of football with virtually the last kick of the game to send Wednesday’s fans into delirium.

Buoyed by almost 40,000 supporters who had made the 400-mile journey from Yorkshire, Paul Sturrock’s men began brightly and should have taken the lead after 14 minutes.

James Quinn’s lofted pass from just outside the centre circle found Brunt in acres of space on the right wing. Brunt’s good first touch took him into Hartlepool’s penalty box but his finish was weak and easily gathered by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

Pools’ problems were exacerbated by the enforced departure of Thomas Butler after 31 minutes. The former Dunfermline midfielder was involved in an early collision with Whelan and had to be replaced by Williams.

The change ironically gave Hartlepool a lift as Porter’s lob went just over the crossbar while leading goalscorer Adam Boyd stabbed Gavin Strachan’s corner into the crowd shortly afterwards.

That brief flurry of pressure was to prove a false dawn as Wednesday got the goal their efforts deserved in first-half injury time.

Craig Rocastle hared down the left wing after completing a lovely one-two with Lee Peacock. The former Chelsea midfielder then had the time and space to send over a fine ball into the path of McGovern, who arrowed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

While Sturrock will have been delighted with his side’s performance in the first half, Wednesday should have been home and dry given the number of chances on goal they created.

Indeed, their first-half profligacy came back to haunt them as Williams restored parity within minutes of the restart.

Ritchie Humphreys’ long throw-in was inadequately dealt with by Wednesday’s backline and after skimming off the head of Lee Bullen, Williams was left with the simple task of firing the ball home from six yards.

Although Wednesday lost crucial momentum following Williams’ equaliser, they continued to create chances – which prompted Martin Scott to replace the tiring Joel Porter with Daly after 70 minutes.

It was to prove a tactical masterstroke as the former Stockport striker put Pools in front with his first touch of the game.

Strachan’s free-kick lured David Lucas off his goalline and, with the Owls goalkeeper in no-man’s land, Daly rose the highest to head the ball firmly into an unguarded net.

With time running out, Sturrock introduced MacLean, Talbot and Patrick Collins at the expense of Lee Peacock, Quinn and Alex Bruce.

It was a triple substitution that was to lead to Wednesday’s equaliser shortly afterwards.

Talbot ghosted into Hartlepool’s box and was just about to shoot at goal before being pulled to the ground by Westwood.

Referee Phil Crossley had little alternative other than to point to the spot but may have been slightly pedantic in showing the outstanding centre-back a red card.

Although Konstantopoulos got a hand to the resulting spot-kick, MacLean’s penalty was hit with too much power to be kept out by the Greek shot-stopper.

Brunt, McGovern and Richard Wood both had chances to win it for Wednesday in the closing stages of normal time as Pools understandably dug their trenches given their one-man handicap.

Without Westwood’s influence at the back, Michael Nelson was left to shoulder the burden of responsibility – which could explain his uncharacteristic error that led to Wednesday’s goal after 94 minutes.

The centre-back made a hash of a huge punt upfield and chested the ball into the path of Whelan.

The 21-year-old slalomed forward towards goal and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot drive past Konstantopoulous which was sufficient to fire Wednesday into the lead.

And with Wednesday’s fans howling for the final whistle, Talbot confirmed the Owls’ status as a Championship club with a neat run and finish at the death.