Wednesday had to settle for a point in their Yorkshire derby clash with Leeds United in a match that was marred by a Leeds ‘fan’ striking Owls goalkeeper Chris Kirkland .
Jay Bothroyd fired Wednesday ahead late in the first half but former Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge struck a superb leveller in the second half. The goal saw some away fans jump on to the pitch and one struck Kirkland in the face.
The ugly scenes on the pitch and in the stands were left to dominate the headlines after a well-fought Yorkshire derby for the most part.
Wednesday will have felt hard done by, after having enjoyed the best of the first half. Indeed, Leeds may have counted themselves lucky to be just the one goal behind at the interval.
The Owls have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Championship this season, however, and at 1-0 the hosts couldn’t hold on to their slender lead as Tonge produced a piece of magic to level.
Owls boss Dave Jones made a number of changes to his starting eleven from the 1-0 home loss against Hull City. Paul Corry was handed his first league start in midfield and Daniel Jones came in at left-back for Joe Mattock.
The hosts started well and carved out the first chance when Michail Antonio picked out Chris O’Grady, who saw his header saved by Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
Wednesday were on top and came a lick of paint away from the opener on nine minutes. Bothroyd’s long-range shot took a deflection and forced Kenny to tip the ball on to the bar.
Antonio directed a header wide but Leeds were looking for a way into the game and tested Kirkland for the first time through a Tonge free-kick.
It was a rare chance for the West Yorkshire visitors and Wednesday were left fuming that a penalty wasn’t awarded minutes later. Bothroyd’s corner saw Leeds striker Luciano Becchio punch the ball behind to safety but the officials didn’t see the handball and waved away the Wednesday protests.
The Owls’ award did come before the break, however. Just a minute before half-time Antonio’s throw caused problems in the Leeds box and Bothroyd rose high to direct his header into the back of the net.
Half-Time: Wednesday 1-0 Leeds
Leeds needed a good start to the second half to thwart the Wednesday momentum and they almost got one through another Tonge free-kick but the former Blade swerved his effort over the bar.
The Owls soon regained their attacking momentum, however, and a second almost came from the most unlikely of sources when Anthony Gardner fired wide.
Antonio, who looked a threat out-wide for Wednesday throughout, also came close to doubling the lead but saw his shot deflected wide with 15 minutes to go.
Although Leeds had enjoyed more of the ball in the second half with the hosts seemingly happy to sit back and hit on the counter attack for the most part, the leveller came somewhat against the run of play.
It was a special goal, and one Wednesday have seen before as Tonge unleashed a long-range shot that flew beyond Kirkland and into the back of the net.
It sparked wild scenes of celebrations from the Leeds fans in the Leppings Lane end but those celebrations spilled over, with a couple of fans coming on to the pitch and one striking Kirkland before running back off into the crowd.
The Owls stopper required treatment and the incident marred what had been an otherwise tense derby match, even with more than ten minutes to go.
Gary Madine and Danny Mayor both came on to try and fire the Owls to victory late on but, despite some pressure on Paddy Kenny’s goal, the match finished all square.
Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Llera, Gardner, Jones, Antonio, Semedo, Corry (Mayor 83), Bothroyd, Barkley, O`Grady (Madine 83). Unused substitutes: Bywater, Taylor, Johnson, Pecnik, Rodri.
Leeds: Kenny, Peltier (Varney 68), Lees, Pearce, Austin (46) Becchio, White, Brown, Tonge, Diouf, Byran. Unused substitutes: Ashdown, Drury, Green, Gray, Hall.
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