Sheff Wed 3 Brighton 1: Dramatic home bow for Pugh as Owls get a lift

As Hillsborough debuts go, it will take something special to beat that of Danny Pugh after Sheffield Wednesday triumphed in a feisty encounter with promotion-chasing Brighton.
Danny Pugh's direct free kick goal beats keeper Tomasz KuszczakDanny Pugh's direct free kick goal beats keeper Tomasz Kuszczak
Danny Pugh's direct free kick goal beats keeper Tomasz Kuszczak

For the on-loan left-back scored from a free-kick, turned provider for Michail Antonio’s crucial third Owls goal to halt a Seagulls’ fightback and then was involved in an incident which saw his manager, Dave Jones, banished to the stands.

That moment came in the 70th minute when Pugh, playing his second game for Wednesday after joining from Leeds United until the end of the season, was penalised for a foul on Brighton’s Inigo Calderon.

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Referee Simon Hooper booked Pugh, to the anger of the Brighton bench, who wanted to see the Owls left-back follow Ashley Barnes for an early bath. Barnes had been shown a straight red card in the first half for an ugly lunge on Kieran Lee.

Tempers boiled over and Jones and Brighton first-team coach Charlie Oatway were ordered out of the dug-outs by Hooper.

Pugh, though, was adamant he did not deserve a red card.

“When a team goes down to 10 men, I think they will always try and balance it out,” he said.

“It was a foul but I don’t think it was ever a sending off.

“It was eventful, it had a bit of everything, really. The main thing for us was the three points so everyone is delighted with that.”

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After five minutes at Hillsborough, it looked like the headlines were going to be stolen by another Owls debut-maker when Leroy Lita knocked in Antonio’s inch-perfect cross.

Lita – who scored the winner after coming off the bench for his Owls debut at Charlton the previous weekend – could have bagged a hat-trick but his predatory instincts should serve Wednesday well as they look to climb from a relegation dogfight.

Then came the two-minute spell which turned the game in Wednesday’s favour. Barnes thought he was fouled by Lee, but the striker picked himself up off the floor before flying into the Owls midfielder and left Hooper with little option to show red.

From the resulting free-kick, wide on the right, Pugh hammered in a low shot which evaded a pack of bodies and goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak before finding the back of the net.

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There was some debate on whether one of Pugh’s team-mates got a touch on the ball but the 30-year-old – whose last goal came for Leeds against Doncaster Rovers in October, 2011 – was adamant the goal was his.

“I am definitely claiming it,” he insisted. “I definitely thought it went straight in. Just before Miguel (Llera) had come over and said ‘hit the target, shoot and look to score’, so he can take a lot of the credit for that. Luckily for myself, it’s sneaked in.

“We have been working on set-pieces in the week before the game but there are a lot of good targets to aim for when the lads go up. Some good-sized lads and it makes it a lot easier for the player taking it.”

That was the source for Wednesday’s third goal, Pugh’s inswinging corner in front of the Kop was bundled in at the back post by Antonio.

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That came just two minutes after Andrea Orlandi had handed 10-man Brighton a lifeline, after substitute Craig Mackail-Smith had terrorised the home defence.

This was the first of four out of the next five games at Hillsborough and was important for the Owls – who beforehand had a better away record in the Championship – to stamp their authority on their own patch.

As for Pugh, he is just happy to finally be playing regular football again after being frozen out at Elland Road.

Pugh – who made his debut in the 2-1 win at Charlton – said he was lucky to join a team who have recorded six wins, two draws and just one defeat in their last nine Championship games.

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“I have been lucky in that sense, obviously the team have improved, done well and picked up some good results,” he said.

“Luckily, that’s been maintained since I have come into the side. It makes the transition period easier for myself.

“I think we played better today than we did last week. At Charlton, we were solid but this week I think we created more chances and a lot more of a threat going forward.

“Plus it’s against one of the top teams in this division, Brighton are a top team and we shouldn’t forget that.

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“We now want to start looking above us rather than always looking over our shoulder and, hopefully, keep climbing up that table.”

Wednesday are four points clear of Barnsley, who occupy the final relegation spot, and in 18th place, ahead of teams like Wolves, Ipswich and Bolton.

Owls manager Jones is not getting too carried away despite seeing his side gain revenge for a 3-0 drubbing in Sussex in September.

“You have to stay grounded, keep focused and keep on working hard, which is what we are doing,” said Jones. “We won’t be getting too carried away, we’ll be keeping our feet on the ground because that’s the only way you can be. You can’t get too down when you are losing games and you can’t get too up when you are winning them.

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“I thought we were outstanding today against a very good, dangerous team with some very good players. We had quality all over the pitch and it showed. We had a bit of a wobble when they scored early in the second half but we scored our third goal at just the right time to get us back on track.

“I think it shows how far we have come since we went down there in September. We have done to them what they did to us in winning the game comfortably. I have always said we are a work in progress but we are heading in the right direction.”

Wednesday were without left-back Reda Johnson, who is due to see a specialist today in France over a troublesome ankle injury.