Rude chants and Shefki Kuqi: Table-topping Sheffield Wednesday scrap to hard-fought Peterborough United win

Sheffield Wednesday sent a packed-out away end into raptures as they secured a rare 2-1 victory away at Peterborough United on Saturday.

Kieran Morrison after the final whistle. Image: Steve Ellis

It’s hard to believe that it’s not even been four years since Peterborough’s demolition of the Owls at London Road… Since then, there’s been a Miracle of Hillsborough and a Wembley win, there’s been the firing of a promotion-winning manager and a Great Escape. There’s also been a relegation, a takeover and a whole lot more. It’s never dull at Sheffield Wednesday.

For the Posh, they’ve remained where they were, stuck in League One and - last season - were only five points ahead of the drop zone. This afternoon, with the hosts trying to get back on track and the visitors looking for another win,

‘4-0, and you f***cked it up’ was the most obvious chant, and it started well before kick-off. Another sold-out away end was always expected to be a noisy one, and they didn’t disappoint as those donned in blue, white, yellow and a new navy number sang their hearts out.

On the pitch it was more even, though, with chances at both ends. Kieran Morrison saw an excellent effort saved by Alex Bass, while David Okagbue - was an early substitute for the injured Tom O’Connor - headed not far wide… With just over half an hour played, there had already been 11 shots on goal.

Despite his excellent cameo last time out, Ernie Weaver remained on the bench for this one, and it’s probably worth mentioning that he has just come off a lengthy injury - caution is required. Liam Cooper is being managed, too, so Gabriel Otegbayo kept his place at centre-back.

Jaden Heskey was into the XI, as was new signing, Davis Keillor-Dunn (the 1,200th player to turn out for the Owls), while Billy Mitchell dropped to the bench as he was given a break after a couple of excellent performances.

With the back-and-forth, it felt like the opening goal could come from either side… As it happened, though, it was Henrik Pedersen’s men who broke the deadlock - with a little help from the home side.

A mix-up at the back saw the ball end up at the feet of Keillor-Dunn, who prodded the ball towards Barry Bannan. His effort was blocked, but only as far as Kieran Morrison, who clipped over Bass with a dainty goal-bound effort. He might have thought he’d picked up his first senior goal, but the replays show that it never actually crossed the line, with an attempted clearance hitting Josh Feeney before nestling into the back of the net.

The lead was very nearly fleeting, though. Peterborough fought back immediately, and Harry Leonard was a lick of paint away from levelling up straight away, but could only watch as his effort bounced back off the post behind Joe Lumley.

There was excellent defending from Yan Valery, Liam Cooper and Reece James as they kept the hosts at bay. They will have been delighted to hear the half-time whistle.

With the second half came a defensive change as Weaver was brought into the mix in place of Cooper, and you have to think that it’s a case of managing both of them. Otegbayo, it would seem, is the only centre-back capable of finishing 90 minutes for the time being.

And his absence was noted within moments, Ben Woods being found unmarked in the Owls’ box before hammering a bullet header past Lumley. The marking was an issue, but so was the inability to stop the cross coming in. 1-1.

Peterborough weren’t slowing down, either. A dangerous cross into the far post almost resulted in a James own goal, but Lumley did excellently to clear it off the line. The Posh kept coming, too, and 10 minutes into the second stanza it seemed that if there was to be another goal, it would be them that got it.

Something had to change, and Pedersen didn’t wait. A triple sub followed a yellow card to Heskey, with the midfielder being replaced by Mitchell as Mason Burstow and Ali Al-Hamadi came on. Jamal Lowe - who’d hit a decent chance over the bar a few minutes earlier - and Keillor-Dunn made way.

There was almost an immediate reward as well, with Wednesday breaking the hosts’ backline before Bannan was found in the box… The Owls skipper caught his strike nicely, but it flashed just past the far post and wide. Callum Slattery went into the book shortly afterwards.

The changes helped, without doubt, and Wednesday did manage to gain control of the game for a while. A sublime Al-Hamadi touch resulted in him getting a shot on goal, but it flew wide of the mark, but momentum swung to and fro in what was a consistently open game in Cambridgeshire.

Then came the moment. After one of their own periods of pressure, the Owls won a corner, and Morrison marched over to flag to take it in front of a noisy away end. His left-footer was a dangerous one, and Valery was on hand to nod it past Bass and into the back of the net. Jubilation from the travelling fans, and for the second game in a row Pedersen’s changes looked to have done the job.

As it so often the case in League One, though, the pendulum continued to swing. Lumley had to tip a misplaced cross over the bar, and another effort from the edge of the box bounced past his post.

Liam Palmer was thrown into the mix with five minutes to go as Valery made way, unable to continue after he limped off the pitch. We’ll wait to hear whether it’s anything to worry about.

Seven minutes were added once the 90 had come to an end, and squeaky-bum-time was well and truly upon us. At one point there were 10 Owls in the box for an 18-yard box scramble that thankfully ended up in Lumley’s arms. Luke Williams’ men weren’t going down without a fight.

The whistle was a relief. While the visitors held firm, it did feel like the home side would’ve got there eventually… But they didn’t, and the celebrations from the Wednesday bench and away end roared through the Peterborough air when Andrew Humphries finally called time.

Once more they’d slogged, they’d scrapped, and they got what they came for. A first win at Peterborough since Shefki Kuqi’s winner in 2003, and three away wins to start a league campaign since the same year.

We’ll have to see how long it lasts, with Huddersfield Town playing later today, but for right now the Owls are top of the table - and they’ve not hit their straps yet.

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