Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore left wondering what could have been after missed opportunities at Oxford United

DARREN MOORE insisted Sheffield Wednesday should have killed the game off before the Oxford penalty that left him frustrated.
By Richard Thomas
Published 7th Apr 2023, 20:17 GMT
Updated 7th Apr 2023, 20:46 GMT

League One promotion-chasers Wednesday are now six games without a win after the 1-1 draw. Barry Bannan scored a superb opener before Akin Famewo’s foul on Marcus Browne led to Cameron Brannagan’s equaliser.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty from where I was,” Moore said. “If anything it was Akin Famewo who was being impinged.

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“I thought we did enough to win the game. The deciding factor for us was at the start of the second half, two saves Oxford’s goalkeeper (Simon Eastwood) made from Mallik Wilks and Dennis Adeniran.

OPENING STRIKE: Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal against hosts Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium Picture: Adam Davy/PAOPENING STRIKE: Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal against hosts Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium Picture: Adam Davy/PA
OPENING STRIKE: Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal against hosts Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium Picture: Adam Davy/PA

"Had one of those gone in I think it would have been too much for Oxford to get back into it.

“Obviously at 1-0 they feel they’re still in the game and you’re always sceptical because it only takes a second to score a goal. And the decision went against us.

“We ended up running out of steam. And they changed their system and went back to a five (at the back) and that just cancelled the game out. Both teams matched up shapes and cancelled each other out.”

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The Owls, who were top of League One at the start of the day, dropped to third behind Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town, who both enjoyed wins.

BUT, WHY?: Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan speaks with referee Rebecca Welch at full time at the Kassam Stadium Picture: Adam Davy/PABUT, WHY?: Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan speaks with referee Rebecca Welch at full time at the Kassam Stadium Picture: Adam Davy/PA
BUT, WHY?: Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan speaks with referee Rebecca Welch at full time at the Kassam Stadium Picture: Adam Davy/PA

Bannon put Wednesday ahead with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box after 35 minutes.

But Browne was impeded by Famewo as both went for the ball in the box 20 minutes from time and referee Rebecca Welch pointed to the spot.

It gave Oxford a lifeline and Brannagan slammed in the penalty to give the Us a vital point in their bid to avoid the drop.

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Manning said: “Cam has a cool head, nothing fazes him. I couldn’t feel more confident with him taking the penalty at that stage.”

Oxford United: Eastwood, Long, Moore (Negru 77), Findlay, Brown, McGuane, Brannagan, Murphy (Fleming 78), Browne (Smyth 90), Wildschut (O'Donkor 46), Joseph. Unused substitutes: Smith, McGinty, Goodrham.

Sheffield Wednesday: Stockdale, Flint, Famewo, James, Palmer, Adeniran (Iorfa 84), Vaulks, Bannan, Johnson, Wilks (Dele-Bashiru 72), Gregory. Unused substitutes: Brown, Bakinson, Shipston, Dawson, Durrant.

Referee: Rebecca Welch (Washington).

Related topics:Darren MooreOxford UnitedBarry BannanLeague One