John Smith's PNE fans' panel verdict: A rollercoaster afternoon for the away fans at Hillsborough
With Sheffield Wednesday firmly rooted at the foot of the table on minus points, having won just once all season, it would be fair to say that recent times have not been much of a hoot for the Owls’ beleaguered fans.
During this campaign they had not recorded a single home league win, as well as not having won any of their last 11 league games.
With this in mind, despite still missing some of our key players prior to kick-off, I fully expected us to rack up our third away win of the season at Hillsborough – although I was also wary you cannot take anything for granted in the Championship.
Our large number of travelling fans were in fine voice as the game kicked off, but were left stunned when the home side – who had only scored three home league goals all season – had the audacity to spoil the moment by scoring with barely three minutes on the clock.
The early goal lifted the home crowd, which had been very subdued, and at that point I realised we actually had a battle on our hands.
Parity was soon restored when we equalised minutes later as Ben Whiteman swept in a well rehearsed set-piece.
This turned out to be the highlight of what I thought was a very lacklustre first-half showing.
In contrast, the home side belied their lowly position and soon had us on the back foot when they began pinging the ball about.
It did not take them long to restore their advantage and, when they did, it made my face wear a pained expression similar to when Frank Spencer’s cat did ‘a whoopsie’ in his beret in the classic comedy sitcom.
I wore this expression for most of the remainder of the half, in which we created very little going forward as well as looking vulnerable at the back.
The home side always looked like they could have added to their tally when they pressed forward.
We were indebted to man of the match Daniel Iversen for making a classy save at a crucial time to keep us in the game.
As the players came out for the second half, the tannoy blasted out the techno song ‘Get Ready For This’.
Our inspired players clearly were as my rollercoaster day of emotions continued in what was definitely a classic game of two halves.
After we had equalised early on in the half, it looked like the game would go our way as the home side began to visibly tire.
The game-changing moment came when Iversen saved a penalty 15 minutes from time.
It was then left to his fellow Dane, Mads Frokjaer, to save our bacon when he sent a sizzling shot into the bottom corner moments later for the winner.
To use the title of Preston-born Nick Park’s Wallace and Gromit film, it was eventually a ‘Grand Day Out’ for the travelling faithful.
However, unlike his animated characters made out of plasticine, I thought that Wednesday certainly were not putty in our hands.