No sunshine, no beach towels, no deckchairs, this was just a cold, windy afternoon on a street corner for those without tickets.

However, thanks to Blackpool's abject failure to complete work on their new stadium, it was possible to watch the action without paying.

There is no stand behind one of the goals at Bloomfield Road – just waste land being used as a car-park – and this allows anyone willing to 'rough it' a free view.

Unfortunately for the 60-plus Wednesday supporters who took advantage of the option, the game was one they would rather forget.

Defeat against one of the other clubs locked in the battle for survival meant the Owls dropped back into the relegation zone with just two games of the season left to play.

To make matters even worse, they played the majority of the second half with ten men after defender Peter Gilbert was sent off for violent conduct.

Now the Owls know that a defeat at Leicester City next weekend could signal a return to League One.

On the positive side, however, two wins from the last two games would still secure survival.

The club's future hangs on a knife-edge – rather like the safety of those who climbed on top of the large advertising hoarding to watch the game.

If new owners are waiting in the wings they, presumably, would prefer to buy a Championship rather than a League One club.

The Owls have also announced that ticket prices are going up next season, but the demand will be far less if games are against Peterborough United, Northampton Town or Bristol Rovers instead of Sheffield United, Derby County and Wolves.

With debts of £27m to cope with, it does not take a genius to grasp what is currently at stake.

Manager Brian Laws had hoped to extend his side's seven- game unbeaten run, albeit all draws which have slowed the club's ascent from danger.

But he ended the afternoon as angry as he had been for some time, bemoaning a lack of fighting spirt, Gilbert's indiscipline, and, of course, the decisions of the referee.

The Owls had not been helped by the injury crisis which had kept 13 players in the treatment room during the build up to the game.

Striker Deon Burton recovered from an eye problem and three others – Graham Kavanagh, Lee Bullen, and Etienne Esajas, were rushed back to make up numbers on the bench.

Laws admitted that picking Kavanagh was a gamble; the midfielder could not even complete 35 minutes without limping again. Why midfielder Ronnie Wallwork, who is fit and available, was snubbed remains a mystery.

There were just six minutes on the clock when Blackpool midfielder Claus Jorgensen found space on the edge of the Owls penalty area to run at defender Richard Wood. His fierce drive took a deflection off Mark Beevers and fizzed into the roof of the net.

Wood equalised for the Owls soon after by stooping low to head home a knockdown at a Franck Songo's free-kick.

But Blackpool had regained the advantage by the interval thanks to striker Dickov, on loan from Manchester City, who volleyed home from 20 yards when the Owls failed to clear lines.

When the second half began, there was every reason for Owls supporters to be optimistic. Their team boasts one of the best records in the Championship for coming back from behind to gain a point but Gilbert's sending off was self-destructive.

The full-back, who has only got recently back into the side due to the growing number of injuries, raised his hands in retaliation following a clash with Dickov in the Owls penalty area.

It left referee Nigel Miller with little option, but to produce the red card although the leniency shown to the Blackpool striker was questionable.

Laws had warned his defenders to be extremely wary of the veteran striker who he had also described as a 'manipulator' of dangerous situations.

Gilbert simply failed to heed the warning and his indiscipline was costly.

The Owls never really looked capable of equalising after that and Blackpool might even have scored again.

The 1,700 supporters who obtained tickets for the away end did their utmost to encourage the players but ultimately it was in vain.

They may 'like to be beside the seaside' in these parts – but, as far as Sheffield Wednesday are concerned, a trip to Blackpool is only the pits.


Blackpool: Rachubka; Barker, Evatt, Gorkss, Crainey; Taylor-Fletcher (Green 77), Southern, Jorgensen, Hoolahan; Dickov (Burgess 86), McPhee (Morrell 77). Unused substitutes: Jackson,, Flinders.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant; Gilbert, Beevers, Wood, Spurr; Johnson (Bullen 58), Bolder, O'Brien (Kavanagh 45), Songo'o; Slusarski (Sahar 69), Burton. Unused substitutes: Esajas, Burch.

Referee: N Miller (Durham).


Big match talking points from Bloomfield Road

From the top of Blackpool Tower, the Bloomfield Road stadium looks worth a visit? Am I right or wrong?

The sea also looks clean up there and the air smells clear. Looks can be deceiving when it comes to Blackpool's home ground, I'm afraid. It is a complete shambles.

What's the problem?

There are only two stands and the facilities beneath both are basic. For away supporters, there is also the joy of sitting in a temporary stand without a roof. Most of the Wednesday supporters found it amusing but the stewards had a tough job on their hands keeping some away from the pitch.

So it wouldn't look at home in the Premier League?

It would probably look more at home in the Blue Square League. If the Championship is going to offer places like this and Carlisle United next season, maybe life in League One is not so bad after all. Elland Road or the City Ground are stunners by comparison.

Are the Owls going to be playing in League One next season?

If they play like this against Leicester City next weekend, the answer would have to be a definite 'yes' but I suspect this result may prove to be a wake-up call.

Two wins from the last two games and the Owls are safe. My money is still on Southampton for the drop.