Barry Bannan’s penalty earns Sheffield Wednesday victory over Bournemouth

Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2020 by PA

Sheffield Wednesday beat Bournemouth 1-0 to end their four-match losing run and record a first home victory since February.

Barry Bannan scored a second-half penalty to ease the pressure on manager Garry Monk as both teams ended the match with 10 men.

Steve Cook was sent off for the Cherries for the challenge that resulted in the penalty, while Kadeem Harris saw red in stoppage time.

Wednesday manager Monk made two changes following Saturday’s defeat at Wycombe with Elias Kachunga and Moses Odubajo included in the starting line-up.

Bournemouth’s line-up featured five changes with Lloyd Kelly, Jefferson Lerma, Dan Gosling, David Brooks and Joshua King all recalled.

Brooks attempted an early curling effort from distance which went well wide.

Adam Reach had Wednesday’s first chance, seeing his shot from a promising position take a deflection wide.

Liam Palmer had an even better opening for the hosts, heading wide after stooping to meet Bannan’s free-kick before Josh Windass then put an angled shot over and Kachunga headed wide from a Kadeem Harris cross during a good spell for the hosts.

Windass went close again with a free-kick which just cleared the bar.

Bournemouth had a good chance in the closing stages of the half when Arnaut Danjuma’s corner picked out Chris Mepham, who headed over.

Diego Rico also put a free-kick off-target and Danjuma’s shot was tipped over by Joe Wildsmith as the visitors pressed before the half-time whistle was blown.

Danjuma fired in a 20-yard shot early in the second half but it was straight at Wildsmith who made an easy save.

King then threatened on the right-hand side of the area, putting a low ball across the face of goal, but there was no-one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Brooks had a great opportunity to score when the ball fell to him after Wildsmith blocked King’s effort, but Julian Borner came to his side’s rescue with a vital challenge to divert the shot wide.

Kachunga put a glancing header just wide following Bannan’s corner.

King then headed narrowly wide at the other end after connecting with an Adam Smith cross as the visitors pressed for the opener.

But Wednesday were awarded a penalty when Windass was bundled over in the area by Cook, who was sent off as a result, with Bannan converting from the spot in the 71st minute.

Palmer made a vital interception to thwart King, whose header from the resulting corner was clawed away by Wildsmith.

Substitute Callum Paterson had a chance to extend Wednesday’s lead late on, firing straight at Asmir Begovic after getting on the end of a through ball from Bannan.

Harris was shown a red card in stoppage time for what appeared to be violent conduct.