Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Plymouth Argyle
The Pilgrims are unlikely favourites ahead of their visit to Hillsborough, courtesy of their 3-0 victory over the Owls in League 1 two months ago. On top of this, the Devonshire side sit second in the league table and haven’t tasted defeat since the first day of the season, winning nine and drawing six in this time.
The Owls will be no pushover however as, despite not quite living up to pre season expectations so far, they earned their biggest win of the season last time our when they beat Sunderland 3-0 in a midweek thumping. While they haven’t showed the consistency required for promotion so far this season, they certainly have the quality to beat any third tier team on their day so cannot be written off in this first round tie.
ONES TO WATCH-
Sheffield Wednesday-Barry Bannan- The midfield metronome has made 253 appearances for the Owls over seven seasons, since joining from Crystal Palace, with 238 of these coming in The Championship. A diminutive creator in the middle of the park, the scotsman most certainly has the quality and flair to unlock the Pilgrim’s backline and, at 31, is still at the peak of his powers.
Plymouth Argyle- Luke Jephcott- The young forward smashed home 16 goals last season in League 1 despite Plymouth battling relegation, making him one of the first names on the team sheet. The Welsh under-21 international has continued his output this season, scoring five and assisting three in 15 games so far. Quick and physical, he has all the attributes to give Wednesday’s back three a very long afternoon.
Kick Off
5- A quiet start to affairs as both sides seem content to size each other up and hold possession in midfield
6-CHANCE- Camara will want that one back! The Pilgrims midfielder is slotted through on goal after starting the move himself with a brilliant tackle on Bannan before storming up the field. However, the young midfielders low drive is tame and saved comfortably by Peacock-Farrell
8- CHANCE- Palmer plays a brilliant diagonal ball over the top of Argyles backline towards Berahino, however the strikers headed effort is poor. His blushes are saved however by the linesman’s flag
9- Corner for Plymouth conceded by Bannan
10- Corner for Plymouth as Grants half-volley is blocked by Johnson
11- Corner for Plymouth conceded by Dunkley as he blocks Houghton’s drive
15- CHANCE- Adeniran cuts out a sloppy pass by Houghton before lending the ball to Berahino on the halfway line, who turns and plays the midfielder through, however he is somewhat wide and his low shot aimed for the bottom left corner is saved relatively comfortably by Cooper- a lively start for both sides
17- SHOT- Kamberi receives the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal before turning sharply and firing a snapshot goalwards, but he can’t find a gap in the wall of green shirts that throw themselves at the effort
25- Plymouth Corner conceded by Dunkley as he cuts out a Hardie pull back aimed at Jephcott
28- Grant is given a great opportunity to deliver the ball when Argyle are given a set-piece 15 yards from the area- his delivery is good however a green shirt cannot connect with it
30-CLOSE- A lapse from Dunkley gives Camara the ball on halfway, who drives with it before squaring to Hardie, however his ball across has far too much pace on it for the striker to reach it.The chance comes alive again but to a mistake from Peacock Farrell who allows Hardie to collect the ball back before cutting back to Edwards, who’s shot is swarmed by blue and white shirts and rolls out narrowly wide for a Plymouth corner
34- Play is stopped as Grant is unable to get up following a clash of heads in the area- the Plymouth man is up after a short break and the ball is dropped back to Wednesday by the referee
37- Free kick for Argyle in a dangerous area as Edwards is tripped by Corbeanu- another decent delivery by Grant however Dunkley heads out well and the game is stopped on a second occasion, with Wilson staying down clutching his head
43- Hardie skips past two players, however his shot from the edge of the Wednesday area is blocked and safely spins into the grateful palms of Peacock-Farrell
Halftime
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Plymouth Argyle
As Anthony Backhouse’s whistle calls an end to the first half, neither manager will be disappointed with their side- they want be pleased either. A tight game with few chances so far, both defences have certainly been on top and it easy to see why the Owls haven’t scored an FA cup game at home in four years. Hoping for more attacking quality in the second half.
Substitution for Plymouth Argyle
Hardie OFF Garrick ON
Kickoff
45- Sheffield Wednesday get us back underway and work the ball forward’s immediately, culminating in Wing bending an effort towards goal from the edge of the area, Wilson gets in the way of it however
47-YELLOW– Adeniran is the first player in the referees book for a late sliding tackle on the halfway line
49- SHOT- Berahino drives down the right of Argyle before teeing up Bannan who sees his shot spin well over
50- Corner for Sheffield Wednesday- Argyle clear the initial cross, however Wednesday get the ball back in the area, with the ball coming to Bannan who acrobatically lets fly, however, like so many shots before, it is swarmed by green shirts and his effort is blocked
52- CLOSE- Grant receives the ball just outside and left of the area before firing towards the near post, his shot whistling just over the bar with Peacock-Farrell stranded
55- Corbeanu beats Edwards before whipping a ball to the backpost, however Grant manages to sweep away ahead of the onrushing Bannan, conceding a corner- which is defended by Plymouth
57- Another Plymouth corner as Adenirans shot from range is deflected wide and out- Bannans delivery is poor however and claimed comfortably by Cooper
60- Triple substitution for Sheffield Wednesday
Patterson OFF Hunt ON
Adeniran OFF Dele-Bashiru ON
Kamberi OFF Gregory ON
63- Substitution for Plymouth
Mayor OFF Broom ON
64- CHANCE- Bashiru storms into the Plymouth area, before slashing his effort well wide at the nearpost
67- CHANCE- It should be 1-0! Dele-Bashiru puts Palmer in one on one with a lovely flick, with the overlapping centre back firing his effort straight at Cooper- he was free on the penalty spot though and should do much better
67- Moments later Berahinos left footed drive is well saved by Cooper at his near post, conceding a corner
68- Wednesday keep it alive following the corner, with Bannan playing a lovely floated cross over to Dunkley which causes havoc among the Plymouth backline with a goal line scramble ensuing. This however is put to a stop by the linesman’s flag. Poor decision from the Lino however as Dunkley is played on by Wilson- Wednesday well on top now
70-YELLOW– Wing is penalised for going through the back of Houghton when attempting to win a header
76- CHANCE- Gregory is played in to the visitors area but sees his near post effort blocked on the slide by Scarr- potentially goal saving challenge
76- Substitution for Sheffield Wednesday
Corbeanu OFF Shodipo ON
78- CLOSE- Jaw-dropping save by Peacock-Farrell after the ball drops to Garrick between the penalty spot and six yard box with the substitute digging out an effort towards the top left corner. It would have been a lovely goal were it not for Peacock-Farrells exceptional reflexes as he throws out a right hand to stop the effort with Hunt eliminating the possibility of any rebounds with his clearance
81- Corner for Wednesday conceded by Grant
Substitution for Sheffield Wednesday
Berahino OFF SOW ON
Substitution for Plymouth
Edwards OFF Agard ON
87- Wing finds Gregory in the wide right of the box who’s cross has Copper worried for a split second, however he watches it sail safely over his bar
90- PENALTY SHOUT- Shodipo is brought down by Cooper and that looks like that could be a penalty, the referee is unmoved however
Substitution for Plymouth
Jephcott OFF Shirley ON
92-CHANCE- Wing has a golden opportunity from point blank range- but his wild swing at the volley is fired over from close range- that should be the game!!!
Full time
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Plymouth Argyle
Man of the Match has to go to Bailey Peacock-Farrell as, despite nit having much to do his reaction save in the 78th minute to deny Garrick was the main reason the owls avoided defeat
