Football: Zigor horror

BRIAN LITTLE'S Tranmere continued their amazing away form with a stunning comeback at high-flying Sheffield Wednesday.

Iain Hume backheeled a cheeky second-half winner for Rovers, who virtually secured their place in the play-offs by extending their unbeaten run on their travels to 10 games .

Chris Brunt had put the home side in front from the penalty spot in the first half, but Michael Jackson cancelled out that strike before Zigor Aranalde's red card reduced Wednesday to 10 men.

With so much riding on the result, both sides were desperate to keep it tight in the opening stages but the hosts conjured a half- chance inside just four minutes.

Paul Heckingbottom swung over an inviting cross from the wing, but Andrew Talbot could find no way past Rovers keeper John Achterburg with his header.

The Owls dominated possession in the opening stages but struggled to break down a well organised visiting defence.

But the pressure began to grow on Tranmere as the game progressed, and Glenn Whelan was unlucky not to break the deadlock when he saw his dipping 30-yard volley fizz wide of Achterburg's post in the 11th minute.

The home side continued to press - looking every inch a side pushing for promotion. However, for all their territorial supremacy, Wednesday were still unable to make the breakthrough. Graham Barrett looked certain to open the scoring midway through the first half when he raced on to a Jon-Paul McGovern knock-down, but saw his thunderous drive well blocked.

However, the hosts' dominance finally paid off in the 31st minute when Talbot was crudely felled in the box by Mark Rankine. The referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, leaving Brunt to step up and drill home his fourth goal of the season from 12 yards.

Tranmere had been virtually non-existent as an attacking force, but drew themselves level three minutes before the break.

Captain Jason McAteer was the provider with a wicked right-wing cross, inviting the unmarked Jackson to thump home anunstoppable header.

The equaliser seemed to draw the sting out of Wednesday, who struggled to get going again after the restart.

Owls boss Paul Sturrock sent on defender Aranalde in place of the injured Richard Wood at half time, and was soon regretting it.

The Spanish defender, on for his Hillsborough debut, was controversially dismissed just nine minutes later following a tangle with goalscorer Jackson.

Wednesday's luck then went from bad to worse, as Rovers striker Hume back-heeled Theodore Whitmore's low cross into the back of the net on the hour-mark.

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