Josh Windass scored Sheffield Wednesday's first penalty for more than 18 months
Josh Windass scored Sheffield Wednesday’s first penalty for more than 18 months to set them on their way to victory at troubled Hull City.
The Owls’ last spot kick award came in their incredible League One play-off semi-final against Peterborough United in May, 2023 but Joao Pedro’s foul on Shea Charles saw referee Oliver Langford pointing to the spot at the MKM Stadium.
Windass swept it home for his fifth goal of the season, and substitute Michael Smith added a late second to secure the Owls' third win in their last six games.
Hull have now gone nine games without a win, leading to chants from home fans demanding the sack for head coach Tim Walter, after owner Acun Ilicali had said the German would remain in his post regardless of tonight’s result.
The win saw Wednesday into the top half of the Championship table for the first time since August, with their head coach Danny Rohl being lionised by the 2,300 away fans by contrast.
Wednesday took a grip on the match in the first half but their recent wastefulness in front of goal haunted them as Windass, Ike Ugbo, Djeidi Gassama and Pol Valentin all went close as they repeatedly opened up a home defence short on confidence.
The Tigers, however, had chances of their own as Kasey Palmer twice whistled shots close and then Regan Slater brought a brilliant close-range block from Owls keeper James Beadle with a stylish piece of control and instant swivel to give him a clear view of goal.
The Tigers were finally undone when striker Pedro, back defending a set piece, tried to stop Charles from delivering a cross and bundled him over in the box.
The novelty of their first penalty in 558 days did not faze Windass, who coolly tucked away his fifth goal of the season.
Xavier Simons had a shot turned onto the post by Beadle as Hull finished the half well, and in the second half the on-loan Brighton keeper made another flying stop from a Pedro header as Hull finally exerted some dominance.
Hull's Abu Kamara denied Anthony Musaba a counter-attacking goal with a brilliantly-timed tackle but when Wednesday launched another slick counter with nine minutes left, there was no mistake as three Wednesday subs combined.
Liam Palmer showed great strength to win the ball and power down the left, his deep cross found Musaba beyond the far post, and the cushioned volley was perfect for Smith - who actually scored that previous penalty against Posh last year - to provide a side-footed finish.
Post-match reaction
Hull City head coach Tim Walter told BBC Radio Humberside:
“It was unlucky. We again missed big chances to score, then you get a penalty against you and the heads went down a bit. It’s a human reaction.
“They are playing my style but it’s not easy when you hit the post, and then are five metres in front of the goal and shoot against the goalkeeper. It’s hard to accept but we have to accept it, and we have to fight. At the moment we can’t score, and that’s our biggest problem.
[On his position] “I am tough, I’m not afraid of situations. I have harder things in life than a football game, there are much more problems in our world than a football game.
“I love my job and all I want to do is work for the club, fight for the club and be successful for the fans.”
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:
“In the first half we were outstanding with the ball. Against the ball there are points we have to improve - we dropped a little bit deep, and it was about box defending today.
“In 20 minutes we had so many chances and you never know how many chances you will get again, so we have to improve. It’s a small step again, no more, but in the end it was fully deserved.
[On half-time substitutions] “Josh had a little bit of a tight hamstring and Ike had a good performance, a big step on his way, but it was to get fresh bodies in, not about performance. I wanted to bring speed in with Musa.”
