Source: Team_Talk
Sharp sting for struggling Wednesday
Sheffield United striker Sharp, who is on a season-long loan at the Keepmoat Stadium, powered in half-time substitute Simon Gillett's superb cross in the 78th minute of Tuesday night's Championship clash.[LNB]It was his sixth goal in as many games to clinch Sean O'Driscoll's side their first back-to-back league wins of the season.[LNB]But the Sheffield-born forward's eighth goal of the season was a dagger to the heart for struggling Wednesday, who have now gone eight games without a win.[LNB]Owls manager Brian Laws, relieved his players finally rolled up their sleeves for the cause, will take little solace from a night full of effort and commitment when he looks at the league table.[LNB]O'Driscoll named the same side which started the win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Laws made four changes in a bid to halt the slide.[LNB]Captain Darren Purse was recalled together with midfielder Sean McAllister, winger Jermaine Johnson and striker Leon Clarke.[LNB]The game's opening exchanges were more in keeping with a park game on a Sunday morning than a local derby, with neither side mustering a single effort on target until the 29th minute.[LNB]Rovers midfielder James Coppinger curled a right-footed effort wide of Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant's left-hand post, but the opening half-hour fell way short of expectation.[LNB]Wednesday, who employed a five-man midfield with Clarke as a lone striker, stifled Rovers' usual fluency and responded with a 20-yard shot from O'Connor that flew straight into goalkeeper Neil Sullivan's hands.[LNB]Wednesday almost broke the stalemate just before the break when Clarke wriggled free in the penalty area, but the burly forward pulled a low, angled shot narrowly wide.[LNB]The Owls had shown sufficient hunger for their under fire boss in the first period to give their 3,000 travelling fans heart for the second and the game followed a similar pattern after the restart.[LNB]Doncaster created little, hustled out of their stride by a visiting side compensating for a clear lack of confidence with bucketfuls of endeavour.[LNB]James Chambers was booked for his lunge on Clarke on the edge of the area in the 64th minute, but Darren Potter thumped the subsequent free-kick into the wall.[LNB]James O'Connor, always stretching, headed Coppinger's corner just over the crossbar as a near-full Keepmoat waited patiently for the contest to ignite.[LNB]And when Laws sent on Luke Varney for Clarke with 19 minutes to go they were still waiting.[LNB]Rovers midfielder Shiels made way for Mark Wilson soon after and then, in the 78th minute, the home side broke the deadlock.[LNB]Gillett was sent clear down the right behind the Wednesday back line and his fine cross was met by Sharp, who sent a thumping header beyond Grant.[LNB]Wednesday defender Beevers volleyed just over in the dying moments to leave the Owls without a goal in over seven hours of football.[LNB][LNB]
