Sheffield Wednesday (2)

Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday based in South Yorkshire and play their trade in League One. Nicknamed the “Owls” after their move to Owlerton, Sheffield. For the third time I will be visiting Hillsborough. I’ve seen a Steel City Derby and a Rotherham United away day here but today it’s the visit of Mansfield Town in the FA Cup! COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!

A very relaxed start to my Saturday with no coaching duties and no long distance travelling. It’s 12pm and it’s time for a little walk into Sheffield City Centre. I have to say that they have really made a good effort on the Christmas Market this year! Great job everybody!! And I can never resist a German hot dog!!

12:30pm and a *PING* from the Super Stag who is in Yates in town, just like I was watching England 0-0 USA last night… Here we are with Fez, Tom, Jack G & James. A quick trip to Spoons for me and the Super Stag who are in search of food.

The food goes down nicely and Saudi Arabia have just missed a Penalty against Poland but great goalkeeping by Wojciech Szczęsny! it’s half time in that game and now it’s off to the tram. It’s a busy one and it’s starting to heat up! Here we are at Leppings Lane and it’s getting louder!!!

“ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ!” The Mansfield fans in fine voice so far! I’ll be in the Lower tier of Leppings Lane today whereas the Super Stag and the rest will be in the top tier but hey ho I’ve never been in the Lower tier so it hopefully won’t be all bad! £10 for this FA Cup tie! YAY!! Vinny is here in the bottom tier! There’s always someone!!! Out come the teams! On comes Hi Ho Silver Lining… Not as good as Rotherham I have to admit… But it’s the FA Cup and may the magic of the cup strike again today!!

Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Mansfield are straight into action, they have it down the right, it’s drilled across… It’s come off the top of the bar and it falls to AKINS… He’s headed it over… Big chance in the early stages in the game!

“Yellow & Blue Army!” Some big noise in the away end so far! The Kop stand is closed funnily enough and an early pyro in the top tier at Leppings Lane so far! 5 minutes now and Boateng receives the ball upfield and he goes for goal from 20 yards… Wide! Should be hitting the target from there but a great start by Mansfield!

“Waheey! Wahoah! Super Mansfield!” 13 minutes now and Wednesday win a free kick in their own half and it’s taken quickly and Mallik Wilks is in behind here… A poor touch and Pym claims the loose ball for Mansfield.

21 minutes gone and Mansfield play down the right, it’s played to Akins on the edge of the box and he shoots on the turn… Cameron Dawson saves.

32 minutes on the clock and Mansfield play down the right, it’s crossed in… IT’S A GOAL!!!! George Lapslie with the final touch and Mansfield have a deserved lead here!!! Me and Vinny enjoyed that one!! “Who are ya!? Who are ya!?” 0-1!

37 minutes now and here come Mansfield again, the ball is played forward to Will Swan, he lifts it over the defender… He goes down… Surely! The referee waves it away… That has to be a Penalty! How has he not given that? Wednesday clear.

43rd minute and Mansfield come forward, it’s played out wide to the right for Kellan Gordon who plays it across low, it comes to Swan who plays it to Akins who sets up Quinn to shoot… Brilliant save by Dawson! Corner for Mansfield, in it comes… Headed wide. A fine Mansfield display sees them lead 1-0 at half time.

Second half, “YELLOWS! YELLOWS!” Mansfield fans still going strong! 56th minute and Mansfield have a throw in on the left and it’s taken quickly to Quinn who gets into the box and he plays it across for Lapslie… Over!

73rd minute and Mansfield work it around the Wednesday box, it’s played in to Boateng in the box on the left and he’ll shoot… Out for a throw in…

78th minute and Wednesday play down the left, they get into the box and it’s played across towards Michael Smith… And he’s scored… Wednesday are level! DAMN! 1-1!

82 minutes now and it’s Wednesday down the left again, it’s played across again and here’s Michael Smith again… Oh and it’s 2-1… The former Rotherham man has turned this game on it’s head!! Smith and Bannan have changed the game since coming on… 2-1!

“And it’s all gone quiet over there!” Wednesday fans paying the travelling Stags a very nice compliment there! 86th minute and Wednesday down the left again, it’s fizzed across… Pym gets there but it falls to a Wednesday man… Shot blocked! So close!

We’re into stoppage time and Mansfield are throwing everything at Wednesday here! 90+5 by my calculations and Mansfield have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one… It’s fallen for George MARIS… No he’s missed it… He’s put it over and that should be that… Play goes on and Quinn has it on the left but he loses it and gives away a free kick… And that’s it! Mansfield are out of the FA Cup for another year but a great performance from the Stags today!! I’m happy with that today! “Allez Allez Allez!” Mansfield fans sing the team off the pitch! As for Wednesday well I’ll be back here on the 17th for Burton Albion at home. Until then Hillsborough.

FT: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Mansfield Town

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 7/10 – Not as good as the previous 2 visits but still brilliant from the Mansfield fans again! Always a good atmosphere when we travel in numbers! Not so much from the Wednesday fans but it never was going to be with a shut kop stand.
• The Ground: 7/10 – Still the same as last time for me.
• Expense: 10/10 – £10 for an FA Cup tie is good for me!
• Overall Experience: 8/10 – Really enjoyed today! Only the result let me down…

32/40 – Not as good as last time…

To see my previous visits click here