Scottish striker Neil Martin scored two goals and Tony Towner added a beauty which should have headed off the great Hillsborough hoodoo.

But, 41 years later, Albion are still waiting for their first ever success at the home of Sheffield Wednesday after a more unfortunate header at the other end.

Albion will look for their first success at the famous old venue today – at the 18th time of asking.

There was a near miss 14 years ago when Shefki Kuqi equalised late to cancel out Gary Hart’s 20th-minute goal.

But 1975-76 was the big chance, when an Albion side set to challenge strongly for promotion from the third tier made an early-season visit to a poor Wednesday outfit who ultimately only secured safety in a last-day four-pointer at home to Southend, with the Essex club going down instead.

Having gone 2-0 down in the first half, Albion fought back to go 3-2 up late on with Martin, who could be deadly in the air, scoring twice.

But the win slipped away in the 88th minute when home sub Dave Herbert sent the ball high into the box, skipper Graham Winstanley back-pedalled and tried to get to it, only for it to flick off his head and float gently over his own keeper Peter Grummitt.

Evening Argus reporter John Vinicombe did not apportion blame to one man or the other but said both were guilty of a lack of communication.

He also observed that the move started with a throw incorrectly awarded to the home side when Ernie Machin had clearly played the ball off an opponent.

Mick Prendergast and Brian Joicey put Wednesday 2-0 up by the 31st minute but Martin, pictured above, quickly replied.

His equaliser on 55 minutes was classic Martin as he headed home at the far post when found by Phil Beal’s deep free-kick.

A crossfield pass by Harry Wilson sent Tony Towner away to put Albion ahead on 80 minutes.

But, just as most of a crowd of 10,326 in the 55,000 capacity venue were giving up hope, Winstanley offered a gift.

Albion boss Peter Taylor shrugged off disappointment.

He said: “We would have capitulated six months ago after being two goals down.

“But no heads dropped. I am concerned with the character of the players and they showed the right qualities.”

As it turned out, a lack of away wins cost Albion promotion as they finished fourth, three points behind Millwall, while Wednesday’s home form, as they failed to win away all season, just about them out of the fourth tier.

Martin, 34, netted nine times in 18 starts before joining Crystal Palace as the next stop in a career which brought more than 200 goals.

The Wednesday side included Eric Potts, who went on to become Supersub at Albion, and was managed by former Goldstone player and coach Steve Burtenshaw, although his days in charge were numbered.

Albion: Grummitt, Tiler, Wilson, Beal, Piper, Winstanley, Towner, Machin, O’Sullivan, Binney, Martin. Sub not used: Mellor.