Cresswell furious after FA put Owls star in the clear

Cresswell needed eight stitches in a wound above the eye after being caught by Johnson's elbow during last weekend's Steel City derby.

Referee Chris Foy took no action and FA officials studied video replays and ruled that there was no intent.

Cresswell, a former Wednesday player, is shocked by the decision and says the FA's failure to suspend Johnson 'opens the door' for other players to make similar challenges.

But Owls manager Alan Irvine insists that there was never a case to answer for Johnson.

"If it had been a Premier League game on Match of the Day, it would have been punished, so why not this time?" Cresswell claimed. "Players are meant to be protected by the governing body but when there are no consequences for a wound like that on the head it opens the door for other people.

"Everybody I know who has seen it says it was disgusting.

"I don't know what video the FA looked at but they have obviously got the wrong angle.

"He tried to hit me with his left arm and missed – and then he's swung his right arm and caught me a treat. The doctor says it is the worst head injury he's stitched up in 17 years. He could see through to my skull."

Johnson would have missed Wednesday's final two games of the season if charged and found guilty of violent conduct and his absence would have been a major blow to the club's bid for Championship survival.

But Owls manager Irvine feels the right decision has eventually been arrived at.

"I can't understand why they have looked at it again having given us the free-kick," he said. "There is only one person who knows whether there was any intent and that would be 'JJ'.

"He caught Cresswell with the elbow but at no point did he look for him. Did the referee do anything at the time? Did their players do anything at the time? Did the fans of either club? Did their staff do anything at the time? I didn't think there was a case to answer," he said.

The Owls visit play-off qualifiers Cardiff City tomorrow knowing that defeat would signal relegation if Watford beat Reading and Crystal Palace, who play on Monday night, beat West Bromwich Albion.

The Blades host Swansea, who need a win to guarantee sixth spot.

Former Owls manager Paul Sturrock is looking to return to management after leaving Plymouth Argyle where he had spent the last four months in a 'business support role' after being replaced as manager by Paul Mariner.