Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Coventry City: Tony Pulis records first win as Owls boss
- Published
Tom Lees scored for the first time in almost a year to put Sheffield Wednesday ahead
Tony Pulis got his first win as Sheffield Wednesday manager as the Owls beat Coventry City to end a nine-game winless run in the Championship.
After an uninspiring first half, the deadlock was finally broken midway through the second period as Barry Bannan's curling free-kick from the left was met at the far post by Tom Lees' header.
The Owls, who moved off the bottom of the Championship with victory, were indebted to goalkeeper Keiren Westwood for the three points after a number of good saves before his side went ahead.
Coventry tried in vain to snatch an equaliser in a game which saw them create more chances than their hosts.
The Sky Blues drop a place to 19th in the table, six points above the relegation places.
The recalled Max Biamou almost gave the visitors a sixth-minute lead as the forward caught Liam Palmer in possession, but his shot was saved by the returning Westwood, with Leo Ostigard heading the resulting corner just wide.
Struggling Wednesday looked nervy early on - Josh Windass saw a 24th-minute effort blocked brilliantly by Ben Sheaf while he scuffed an effort wide late in the first half after Liam Shaw's effort had been cleared.
Westwood shone after an hour as he made fine saves first from Sam McCallum and then from a cross that came off his own defender Cheyenne Dunkley, before Dunkley cleared an Ostigard header off the line from the resulting corner.
Westwood then saved well from Amadou Bakayoko's 70th-minute effort with Ostigard putting the follow-up into the the side netting, before Bakayoko had an effort blocked by Lees five minutes later.
Wednesday should have made their victory margin more comfortable in the final minutes, but Ben Wilson did well to save from Windass after the striker had broken through on goal.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Tony Pulis told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We were missing quite a few players but the players that have stepped in have done really well.
"Winning is everything and hides a multitude of sins and I'm delighted for the dressing room and the supporters who have waited a long time for that.
"We need to make this a fortress and that hasn't been the case of late."
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire:
"It was a really difficult game and it was a horrific pitch.
"We weren't ruthless enough in front of goal, we had good opportunities and didn't make the most of it.
"You just feel it was a game too far for us after the run we've been on but no heads should be hanging, the players gave it everything they had."
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