Dave Challinor got a close look at what he's taking on at Hillsborough. Confirmed as Henrik Pedersen's successor on Sunday morning, the new boss took his seat in the stands for Matt Hamshaw's final game as interim. He saw a side that can hurt teams when it plays on the front foot, and one that still finds ways to make life harder than it needs to be.
Before kick-off, the ground fell silent as the Last Post was played, with a giant poppy held aloft across the North Stand.
Team news
Hamshaw was without Reece James, Billy Mitchell, Ali Al-Hamadi and Liam Cooper, though Jordi Liongola was fit enough for a place on the bench. Hamshaw went with a back three of Liam Palmer, Ernie Weaver and Swinkels. Yan Valery and Max Lowe played as wing-backs, Jaden Heskey partnered Barry Bannan in midfield, and Mason Burstow led the line ahead of Callum Slattery and Keillor-Dunn.
First half
Wednesday took a while to settle, but once they did, they were the better side. Keillor-Dunn had two efforts blocked, Slattery had another charged down and Burstow headed wide before the breakthrough came on 25 minutes. Keillor-Dunn pounced on a loose pass from Leighton Clarkson, drove forward unchallenged and fired into the bottom corner beyond former Owl Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Burstow was booked on 38 minutes, and two minutes later the game turned. A simple ball over the top caught the Owls' back line square, Tom Bloxham got goal-side of Swinkels, and the Dutchman pulled him down as the last man. Referee Simon Mather showed him a straight red, a debatable call on his first start since August.
Hamshaw reshuffled into a 4-4-1, with Keillor-Dunn and Slattery pushed out wide, and Wednesday got through to the break. Maynard-Brewer dealt with what came his way, and the defence cleared a couple of goalmouth scrambles.
Second half
Ian Evatt brought Josh Bowler on at half-time, and Blackpool spent most of the second half camped in Wednesday's half. Weaver and Bannan both threw themselves in front of shots, and Hayden Coulson missed a glorious chance ten minutes after the restart. Wednesday's best moment came just before the hour, when Keillor-Dunn wriggled free and forced a sharp stop from Peacock-Farrell.
Evatt made four changes between 67 and 68 minutes, including Jerry Yates against his old club, and the pressure kept building. Burstow worked tirelessly up front and had a good case for a free-kick on the edge of the box when Oliver Casey clattered him, but nothing was given.
On 81 minutes Hamshaw took off the goalscorer and sent on Ricardo Santos to restore the back three. Within seconds, Albie Morgan swung in a deep cross, Yates got the better of Weaver, and his poked finish crept under Maynard-Brewer. On the balance of the second half, it had been coming.
Tempers boiled over on 84 minutes. Bannan and Bowler were both booked after a clash that Palmer had to break up, and Evatt was cautioned for dissent. Both sides went close to a winner from distance. Burstow's effort was tipped wide by Peacock-Farrell, and at the other end Oliver Casey rattled the crossbar from long range. Kieran Morrison and Harry Gray came on for Burstow and Lowe with a minute left, and Gray was booked in stoppage time.
Verdict
A point is a fair result. Blackpool finished with 18 shots to Wednesday's 17 and an expected-goals figure of 1.22 to 0.71, most of it built up against ten men. The real damage was done on 40 minutes. Until the red card, Wednesday were comfortable, ahead and creating chances.
Hamshaw leaves the interim role with two draws from two games. Challinor's first match in charge is the FA Cup first-round trip to Oldham next Sunday.
Match details
Sheffield Wednesday: Keillor-Dunn 25'
Blackpool: Yates 81'
Sent off: Swinkels 40' (Wednesday)
Booked: Burstow 38', Bannan 84', Gray 90+4' (Wednesday); Niskanen 79', Williams 82', Bowler 84' (Blackpool)
Wednesday subs: Ricardo for Keillor-Dunn 81', Morrison for Burstow 89', Gray for Lowe 89'
Referee: Simon Mather
Attendance: 30,674
Sources: The Wednesday Word, Yorkshire Post, The Star