Sheffield Wednesday 1 Brighton 0: Best leaves it late as Wednesday stretch home run

Leon Best struck an injury-time winner as Sheffield Wednesday recorded a fourth consecutive home victory with a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship success over play-off-chasing Brighton.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Mar 2014, 07:12 BST
Wednesday's manager Stuart Gray.Wednesday's manager Stuart Gray.
Wednesday's manager Stuart Gray.

The on-loan striker fired left-footed past Seagulls goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak in the first minute of stoppage-time following a powerful surge into the 18-yard box to give Stuart Gray’s men all three points in a tight game at Hillsborough.

Albion went closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening stages when Spanish forward David Rodriguez, in search of his first Seagulls goal, headed Jake Forster-Caskey’s left-wing corner against the Wednesday crossbar with 15 minutes played.

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Owls winger Jeremy Helan then flashed a left-footed volley across goal at the other end after the Brighton back-line could only partially clear Best’s delivery from the right.

Top-scorer Chris Maguire saw his long-range effort charged down by full-back Stephen Ward just before the interval.

Will Buckley, who scored twice in his previous two games, wasted a golden opportunity.

Buckley beat the offside trap but, with only Chris Kirkland to beat, the former Watford man fired his shot straight at the Owls goalkeeper.

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Jesse Lingard, who scored four against Wednesday while on-loan at Birmingham earlier in the season, was the next to threaten.

The on-loan striker scampered towards goal down the left-hand channel before cutting inside and striking a powerful effort from the edge of the box which was held by Kirkland.

Wednesday then went close to an opener with a rare chance at the other end.

Substitute striker Benik Afobe broke clear in the area but his stretched attempt was diverted away by Kuszczak before Liam Palmer’s powerful follow-up attempt whistled over.

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Kuszczak was again tested as Maguire sent in a stinging drive from distance.

Brighton had never won at Hillsborough in 13 attempts ahead of kick-off and Best confirmed that run would be extended when he grabbed the late winner.

Sheff Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Onyewu, Loovens, Mattock, Maguire, Palmer, Hutchinson (Coke 46), Lee, Helan (Afobe 71), Best. Unused substitutes: Jermaine Johnson, Martinez, Llera, Nuhiu, Oshilaja.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Saltor, Greer, Upson, Ward, Ince, Andrews, Forster-Caskey (Dunk 90), Buckley (March 83), David Rodriguez (LuaLua 77), Lingard. Unused substitutes: Chicksen, Ankergren, Lopez.

Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).

Related topics:BrightonSheffieldChris Maguire