Football: Warhurst to miss Turkey tie
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WEDNESDAY'S prolific defender- turned-striker Paul Warhurst missed this game after pulling a muscle in training. He has withdrawn from the England squad for the World Cup qualifier with Turkey next week, but his manager, Trevor Francis, hopes he will be fit for the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on 3 April.
But at least he avoided a bruising encounter at Hillsborough last night in which his side were denied victory in the injury time necessitated by their opponents' combative approach.
Wimbledon lived up to their dubious reputation for 75 minutes before falling behind to a Mark Bright goal.
Five minutes later, John Fashanu was shown the red card as he was carried off after clashing with the Wednesday captain, Viv Anderson, with whom he had already come to blows. To add insult to Anderson's injury, Dean Holdsworth plundered the equaliser in the third minute of time added on for stoppages.
The Dons' captain was also involved in the incident that led to Roland Nilsson limping off.
Wednesday may be content to sacrifice two points, having escaped comparatively unscathed as they prepare for a hectic end to the season.
Warhurst was replaced by Chris Bart- Williams, back from Australia and John Scales quickly reminded him of the cold comforts of English football with a crunching tackle in the opening minutes.
Scales and Roger Joseph were lucky to escape bookings, but the patience of the referee, John Lloyd, ran out when Gary Elkins floored Chris Waddle. Brian McAllister joined him for a late tackle on Bright.
When violence gave way to football, Waddle laid on three good chances for Bright before the striker turned in a cross from the substitute, Nigel Jemson. A just result seemed to have been achieved, but Holdsworth, whose swivel shot had earlier brought a fine save from Chris Woods, turned in Neil Ardley's cross.
Francis declined to comment, but the club chairman, Dave Richards, later barred Wimbledon players from the club lounge. The Wimbledon manager, Joe Kinnear, defended his team. 'Deep down, people don't want to play us,' he said. I wonder why?
Sheffield Wednesday: Woods; Nilsson (Watts, 50), Worthington, Palmer, R Jones, Anderson, Wilson, Waddle, Bart-Williams (Jemson, 67), Bright, Sheridan. Substitute not used: Pressman (gk).
Wimbledon: Segers; Joseph, Elkins (Blackwell, 90), V Jones, Scales, McAllister, Ardley, Earle, Fashanu, Holdsworth, Dobbs (Sanchez, 87). Substitute not used: Digweed (gk).
Referee: J Lloyd (Wrexham).
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