A hard fought affair saw the points shared at Hillsborough despite big chances for both sides to win the game.
Wednesday, being led by interim Matt Hamshaw after the sacking of Henrik Pedersen, had the better first half than the visitors, despite not creating any clear cut opportunities. Cambridge saw a few goalmouth scrambles crowded out by the hosts defence. Some half-chances for both sides led to nothing with the scores still level at the break.
The game burst into life instantly in the second half, and Sheffield Wednesday were awake to strike first. A quick free kick from Callum Slattery put Mason Burstow through on goal, who unleashed a rocket that flew past Jake Eastwood and put the hosts in front. Looking to kill the game off, Wednesday completely dominated following their opener.
Their biggest chance came not long after. The goalscorer Burstow found himself alone in the six yard box for what looked like a simple tap in. Eastwood stood tall and made himself big to deny the Englishman with an unbelievable stop, despite not knowing very much about it.
That save from the U’s keeper may have been the game’s turning point as Shayne Lavery picked the ball up in his own half. He went on a stunning solo run before laying it off to fellow substitute Sully Kaikai, whose first time strike nestled in the bottom left corner to level the score.
Wednesday captain Barry Bannan hit the post not long after before both teams exchanged chances in an end to end final 15 minutes. A manic sequence of play followed a Cambridge corner with four last ditch blocks denying the visitors from taking the lead.
Both sides may feel it an injustice they did not take home all three points as both had big chances to win the game. A point for Cambridge sees them in seventh place before hosting mid-table Leyton Orient at the weekend. Wednesday, still in the hunt for those playoff places, finished the day in ninth, before hosting a struggling Blackpool side on Sunday.
Post-match thoughts
Matt Hamshaw
“Frustrating is the keyword. The first 10 to 15 minutes weren’t good enough, we were too lethargic.
“We looked like the team that we can be coming out for the second half. I’m disappointed hugely with their goal, I thought we should have handled it better.
“We just needed that second goal and it would have eased a bit of the pressure.
“They’re capable of doing it, I don’t want to make a excuses for anybody but it has been a tough 48 hours for everybody, but we have to be better than that.
“I’m in charge until a new manager is appointed, it’s a huge honour for me to do it and step up.
“The players think they’ve left three points out there and I can’t disagree with them.”
Neil Harris
“We had so many chances, so many clearances off the line. It’s a strong point that we take into Saturday.
“There were three really good moments where we should’ve scored and we didn’t. If you’re not ruthless and not clinical and don’t take those moments at places like this then you get punished.
“Naive by us. When you come to places like this and play against what normally is a Championship side, then you can’t switch off for a moment.”
Image Credits: Samuel Haughian
