 Pearce's side were frustrated by an impressive Sheffield Wednesday |
Steven MacLean's strike gave Sheffield Wednesday a well-deserved FA Cup replay against Manchester City. The Premiership visitors looked to have won the game when Georgios Samaras converted a 78th-minute penalty after Micah Richards was brought down.
But a minute later, MacLean arrowed in a shot through a crowd of players.
The Championship side had the better chances to win the game in the dying minutes but MacLean and substitute Wade Small were both off-target.
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City boss Stuart Pearce was calmness personified before the match started as he sat on the bench singing along to 'Hi Ho Silver Lining'.
He had every reason to feel confident after picking his strongest available side but they failed to muster a single chance in a turgid first half.
The Owls just about had the edge but Chris Brunt wasted their only real opportunity by miskicking horribly after being released by Glenn Whelan.
The lack of chances meant it was left to Richards to liven up proceedings by wrestling Whelan to the ground and the England defender's booking at least provided the home fans with something to cheer.
However, the half-time team talks from former Nottingham Forest team-mates Pearce and Brian Laws clearly had some effect.
There were more chances in the first five minutes after the break than there had been in the whole of the first half.
Nicky Weaver tipped over Sylvain Distin's awful attempt at a headed clearance and from the corner, Samaras cleared Lee Bullen's header off the line.
And at the other end, Darius Vassell finally beat the offside trap - not once but twice - although keeper Mark Crossley was out quickly to deny the former England striker on both occasions.
Still, Wednesday looked the more likely scorers, with Whelan and Brunt carrying a potent attacking threat for Laws' side.
But they fell behind when Richards picked up Vassell's pass and burst into the area, only to be up-ended by a combination of Graham Coughlan and Kenny Lunt.
Crossley, who was treated for injury three times during a heroic performance, guessed the right way but Samaras' penalty had enough power to sneak under the keeper's dive.
It was a harsh blow for the hard-working home side but their disappointment lasted for all of a minute as MacLean sent the home fans into ecstasy.
Shortly afterwards, the striker had an even better chance to win it but from Kenny Lunt's pull-back, he stabbed wide and Wednesday had to be content with a trip to Eastlands on Wednesday, 17 January.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws:
"It would have been a travesty if we hadn't because I thought we edged it over the 90 minutes. "We gave them too much respect in the first half and we needed to take the game to them but the passing in the second half was sensational at times.
"We are playing exceptionally well away from home so we'll go into the replay with confidence and you never know."
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce:
"It was a typical Cup tie in that there was not much given by either side. We both feel as though we might have won it so a draw is fair. "I don't think our work is done yet because I think it might be an even harder game at our ground.
"Credit to them and Brian Laws. I'm pleased for him but I won't be pleased to see him Tuesday week."
Sheff Wed: Crossley, Bullen, Coughlan, Simek, Spurr, Brunt, Whelan, Lunt, Tudgay (Small 76), MacLean, Burton.
Subs Not Used: Adamson, O'Brien, Folly, Beevers.
Booked: Burton, Lunt.
Goals: MacLean 78.
Man City: Weaver, Trabelsi (Sinclair 45), Onuoha, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Richards, Dabo (Dickov 87), Beasley (Miller 80), Samaras, Vassell.
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Corradi.
Booked: Richards, Dickov.
Goals: Samaras 78 pen.
Att: 28,487
Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
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Interview: Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws
