Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 West Bromwich Albion: Barnes beauty earns Baggies draw with Owls
- Published
On-loan Leicester man Harvey Barnes' equaliser at Hillsborough took his tally to four goals for Albion
West Brom missed their chance to climb back to the top of the Championship table but still left Hillsborough in good heart after coming back from two goals down to draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
The Baggies struck twice in as many minutes late on as Chris Brunt's wicked cross went in off Joel Pelupessy before Harvey Barnes dribbled his way through to serve up a stunning equaliser.
Both the Owls' goals - from Adam Reach and Fernando Forestieri - came straight after near misses from the Baggies.
Reach got the first on 24 minutes when, fed by Josh Onomah's low pass from a right-wing corner, the Owls midfielder was not closed down and took careful aim from outside the penalty area before unleashing a fierce left-foot strike which arrowed into the helpless Sam Johnstone's top right corner.
But that came just seconds after Dwight Gayle's penalty claim at the other end when Michael Hector's knee made firm contact with the fast-moving Albion man's calf.
The Baggies were then similarly stung again when Wednesday doubled their lead on 41 minutes. After Tyrone Mears' right-foot shot had been brilliantly saved low down by Owls keeper Cameron Dawson, the home side went straight up the other end for Forestieri to coolly finish right-footed from eight yards.
Fernando Forestieri (right) had not scored in almost two months
Gayle was then denied by the crossbar to leave the Baggies trailing at the break. But it looked like it was not going to be Albion's night until boss Darren Moore gambled with a triple substitution midway through the second half - including the removal of main strikers Gayle and Jay Rodriguez - and it eventually paid dividends.
On 86 minutes, from Brunt's rare right-footed cross from the right flank, Pelupessy was put under pressure from behind by the approaching Barnes and the Owls man turned the ball into his own net.
Then Barnes picked up the ball close to the halfway line and went off on a rampaging run, showing pace and trickery that the Owls defence could not deal with before he turned inside to hammer home a low right-foot shot which Dawson could only parry into the net.
Wednesday are now unbeaten in eight home league games going back to losing 1-0 at home to Fulham in April.
Owls boss Jos Luhukay told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We have a comfortable situation at 2-0 but for West Brom to score two goals so quickly was painful for us. The second goal came from deep in our own half.
"On the positive side, it was a fantastic goal from Adam Reach. We played well and had other chances.
"Last Friday we did not lose against Leeds. The same now with West Brom. We are happy with that."
West Bromwich Albion head coach Darren Moore told BBC WM:
"I'm really pleased, having been 2-0 down at half time. I just made a tactical switch to ask some questions of Sheffield Wednesday knowing that they would tire late on.
"That's the first time we've been down 2-0 down this season and to show that sort of resilience and fight was great.
"It was a strong finish from us. And what an individual effort from Harvey Barnes to show such skill. But all three substitutes who came on did well."