Sheffield Wednesday

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There's a reason why the phrase 'typical Wednesday' exists. Shade often follows light. They typically haven't been very good away from home over the years. They've had long runs in the past where they haven't been able to overcome deficits.

Last season they looked doomed to relegation after a heavy defeat at Ipswich Town and an abject performance at Middlesbrough.

This is a new Wednesday these days. Now the Owls lead the Championship for points gained from a losing position (20). Their nine away wins are second only to Burnley and Sheffield United.

As we know, they overcame those defeats at Portman Road and the Riverside Stadium a year ago to pull off a great escape. Now, just as a play-off push was starting to fade, wins at Plymouth Argyle and Norwich City have re-ignited hope.

It's not very Wednesday to traipse into the dressing room 2-0 down at a place like Carrow Road and then flip the game on its head in the second half. This is the Danny Rohl effect.

The German always seems to have a plan B. His tactical adjustments are sophisticated and filled with purpose. They aren't hopeful punts.

He's legit. The real deal. Or the Rohl deal, if you like.

Look at the scenes at the end on Tuesday night. The always determined Barry Bannan leading a team huddle on the pitch, speaking of the significance of two huge away wins.

Players celebrating with fans as they roar their delight at another win on the road. Rohl having his moment, followed by Chris Powell loving every minute.

This is a world away from the normal Sheffield Wednesday.

Their next challenge to overcome is the Steel City derby on Sunday. Can they do what no other Owls team has done since 26 February 2012 and beat their rivals?

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl hailed his team's "outstanding" mentality after they staged a second-half fightback to win at Norwich City.

The Owls boss reflected on the fact that his side scored three second-half goals, just as they did in a 3-3 draw at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, telling BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We played a strong Norwich who showed their quality in the first half, but I thought even at 2-0 there were moments we were in the game, though the transition moments were not clinical enough.

"At half-time we brought two players in, changed the shape, changed the pressing line to a little bit higher up.

"To have this mentality to come back, after Middlesbrough and now in Norwich, is outstanding. It felt really good because we had momentum against us and now we have a little bit back."

Wednesday's win lifted them above Norwich into 10th place, five points off the play-off positions.

Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday still have hopes of gate-crashing the Championship play-offs as they meet on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

The Canaries are six points off the pace after a four-game unbeaten run which has included three draws.

Wednesday snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-0 win at Plymouth on Saturday and are seven points behind sixth-placed West Brom.

• Norwich City have lost just one of their past seven league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D2), but could lose both league games to the Owls in a season for the first time since 2008-09.

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless across their past six away league games against Norwich City (D2 L4), since a 1-0 victory at Carrow Road in April 2009.

• Norwich have only won two of their past 11 Championship games played on a Tuesday (D4 L5) with home victories over Watford (4-2 in February 2024) and Plymouth (6-1 in November 2024).

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost only one of their past 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W5 D5), and are unbeaten in their previous four on the road (W2 D2).

• Borja Sainz has been directly involved in three goals in his three Championship appearances against Sheffield Wednesday (2 goals, 1 assist), scoring and assisting in this exact fixture for Norwich last season.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl says he was impressed by his side as they ended their poor run of form with an impressive 3-0 win at Plymouth Argyle.

Aside from a difficult opening 10 minutes the Owls controlled the game against an Argyle side low on confidence who dropped to the foot of the Championship table.

The win came after a three-match losing run and keeps Wednesday's outside hopes of making the play-offs alive - they remain 13th in the Championship and are seven points off sixth place.

"Except for the first six or 10 minutes I think we dominated the game against a difficult one," Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"How they play, their structure against the ball, it's not easy to create so many opportunities.

"But we controlled the game, kept the ball in the right areas, we were aggressive against the ball and our counter-pressing was much, much better.

"I must say at first the back four, and then the back five, did a good job today.

"It was important that we kept a clean sheet today, even after going 3-0 up, and in the end we could have scored four or five goals - we had some good chances."

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Another eventful week at Hillsborough then?

Reports surfaced suggesting Southampton retain an interest in appointing Danny Rohl in the summer, to replace Ivan Juric.

Both managers were asked about the story at their press conferences. Juric said it was "normal" for the boss of a struggling team to be linked with the sack. He's lost all but one of his 10 Premier League matches in charge of Saints.

Meanwhile, Rohl used a straight bat the England cricket team could have done with during the recent Champions Trophy.

I know some people think journalists were born yesterday - but none of us expected any revelations. Sometimes you have to ask questions because fans expect you to. Nothing was ever going to be confirmed or denied. It played out as expected.

To be honest, the feeling that Southampton could make a fresh move for Rohl has felt like the worst-kept secret in football for a while. He was the man they wanted before and as was suggested this week, the compensation situation will be easier once Saints are relegated.

The German's focus will be on the final 11 games. Rohl is too professional to take his eye off the ball, particularly with a Steel City Derby on 16 March. He won't want anything to distract from the task at hand and will likely do everything to ensure that doesn't happen.

Unfortunately for Owls fans though, they face the prospect of this coming to fruition. What happens then?

The club has definitely taken a step forward under Rohl's leadership, on and off the pitch. He is a top-class operator who is used to working at big clubs or with the German national team.

It should irk Wednesday supporters that a club like Southampton, even with a Premier League infrastructure and experience, are universally seen as a more appealing option — capable of delivering on the ambitions of a talented young boss.

That shouldn't just be shrugged off. There shouldn't just be a coping mechanism of a finger pointed at the German if he does move on eventually.

It shouldn't just be accepted that Wednesday can't compete with clubs like Southampton. They should aspire to be peers, at the very least.

Plymouth will seek to get back to winning ways in the Championship as Sheffield Wednesday head to Home Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The second-bottom Pilgrims are effectively seven points from safety and are winless in four league games, taking just two points and scoring two goals, since the thumping 5-1 win over Millwall on 12 February.

The Owls have one win in six and have lost their past three games to fall seven points and seven spots behind the play-off places.

• Plymouth Argyle have won each of their past four home league games against Sheffield Wednesday, scoring exactly three goals in three of those victories.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their past two league games against Plymouth Argyle and could win three in succession against the Pilgrims for the first time in the EFL.

• Since losing five in a row at Home Park between February and April 2024, Plymouth Argyle have only lost four of 20 home Championship games (W8 D8).

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their past three Championship matches and haven't had a longer losing run since losing the first four games of the 2023-24 season under Xisco Munoz.

• Sheffield Wednesday have conceded 27 goals in the final 30 minutes of Championship matches this season, shipping seven goals in this time period across their last five league games alone.

Image source, PA Media

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield after their 2-1 defeat by Sunderland.

"This game shows a bit of everything from the last few weeks, two big injuries in key moments, an easily conceded goal, a lot of missed opportunities and two moments where you do not get the right decision," he said.

"At the moment it is really hard to take because I see how much my players invest.

"The first goal was bad, but the second goal was bad, bad, too easy. At the moment, we destroy our hard work with one single moment and this is hard for the team."

13th placed Sheffield Wednesday host fourth placed Sunderland on Friday (20:00 GMT) as both teams look for a first win in three league games that will strengthen their position on the Championship table.

The Black Cats have fallen away from their top three rivals after two straight defeats sees them eight points adrift of second placed Sheffield United.

While the Owls are just six points shy of a play off spot, but their two successive losses puts them at the latter end of a top half cramped with promotion chasers.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost three of their last four league games against Sunderland (W1), losing those three matches by a combined 12-0 scoreline.

• Sunderland have lost just two of their last nine away league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W5 D2), winning 3-0 on their last visit to Hillsborough in September 2023.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their last two league games and will be looking to avoid losing three in succession for the first time since August 2024, a run which began with a 4-0 defeat to Sunderland.

• Sunderland have lost their last two league games, as many as they had in their previous 25 in the Championship (W12 D11).

• Sunderland's Wilson Isidor has been involved in five goals in his last six league games (4 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 18 appearances (5 goals).

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl remains focussed on guaranteeing Championship safety despite being 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

Wednesday currently sit 13th, six points adrift of the play-offs.

But Rohl is keen to reach the 50-points mark and is refusing to look any further ahead.

"It is always about going forward and being on the front foot but it has always been about 50 points," he said.

"We've worked hard but we need to win the next game. We will try; hopefully we will be still in a position to attack something."

Victory over fourth-placed Sunderland on Friday will see them go two points shy of Rohl's target, but the German is wary of the Black Cats' threat.

"They have good momentum, they have an exciting team. It is a long race, not just a sprint, you need to ready for 46 games.

"Every team has a period in the season where you lack some luck. This is football, the Championship."

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield following their 4-0 loss at Burnley.

"Until the first goal we played a good game and we created chances, then we started the second half with more good moments but conceded again and then it's hard," he said.

"We're doing well between both boxes but to win games you have to be strong in the box.

"We are doing so many things right but it's hard and you're seeing the limit of where we are at the minute."

Sheffield Wednesday must play the "perfect" game when they take on miserly Championship high-flyers Burnley on Friday, says boss Danny Rohl.

The Owls are ninth in the table, three points off the play-off places following a last-gasp defeat against Coventry in their previous game.

Burnley are third and in contention for automatic promotion, having conceded just nine goals in 33 league games this season.

Rohl said his side must "get the basics right" as they have the quality up front to hurt any team in the division.

"We will play with our intensity and create a lot of chances," the 35-year-old German told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"We have some weapons and are always dangerous up front. We can create something.

"But of course you need a perfect game away against Burnley to take something there.

"They are organised and know what they have to do. It is not special, special but they have good structure against the ball, high intensity and make good recovery runs.

"They work as a unit, as a team and are hard to break. They put a lot of pressure on the ball and have done a lot of good things so far."

Image source, Rex Features

Josh Windass believes Sheffield Wednesday can succeed where others have failed in breaking down the doors of Burnley's Turf Moor fortress.

The Clarets have a well-publicised defensive record having not conceded in the league home or away since 21 December against Watford.

It is a run that has seen Scott Parker's men rack up 1,000 minutes without conceding and made them the meanest defence in Europe.

But Wednesday striker Windass believes all records must fall eventually and he reasoned that the Owls may have the firepower to break through when they visit Turf Moor on Friday night.

"I have full belief in this squad that we can go to what is a difficult venue and win," said Windass, who has scored 10 goals this season.

"We have to find areas to make passes and create openings, it's not just Burnley's defensive record, they don't let teams have a lot of shots so we have to find a way around that.

"It's an unbelievable record, I don't remember seeing anything like it and it's testament to their manager, the defenders and the goalkeeper.

"But we are a team that scores goals so if there's anyone that can break that run, it's us."

Burnley will look to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Turf Moor on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

The Clarets are five points off the top two but could gain ground with Leeds United and Sheffield United playing each other on Monday evening.

The Owls, who have play-off ambitions of their own, are three points off the top six in ninth.

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past seven league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D3), scoring at least one goal in each of those matches.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost just one of their past nine away league games against Burnley (D4 L4), though that sole defeat did come on their last visit to Turf Moor in September 2015 (3-1).

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past 20 league games (W11 D9), the Clarets' longest run since a 22-match run between November 2022 and April 2023.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won seven of their past 12 away Championship matches (D1 L4). Since the start of October, only city rivals Sheffield United (8) have won more away games in the division than the Owls' seven.

• Burnley have kept 11 consecutive clean sheets in the Championship. In the entire history of the Football League since 1888, only one side has had a longer run in the top four tiers, with Manchester United keeping 14 in a row during the 2008-09 campaign.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry's winning goal on Saturday was a huge error by goalkeeper James Beadle. However, I disagree with the online chatter that he should be dropped or that the Owls were wrong for re-loaning and starting him ahead of talented 19-year-old Pierce Charles.

Firstly on Charles, he is very highly-rated behind the scenes at Hillsborough.

I remember going on Wednesday's summer training camp in 2023 with several players commenting he was destined for big things. Some suggested he'd make an excellent outfield player, let alone a keeper.

He has impressed at international level for Northern Ireland, winning four caps before he even turns 20. His range of passing is impressive, with one particular delivery that set up a goal against Grimsby in the League Cup sticking in the memory.

However, this is no time for a rookie. He has yet to make a league start.

As we saw in the FA Cup against Coventry recently, Charles still has plenty to work on. The Sky Blues consistently tested his ability to deal with set pieces delivered into his range and he didn't look comfortable or commanding. He's 19 and learning.

Beadle might be young (he's only one year older than Charles) but he's far more experienced. He's approaching 100 league starts. He's been Wednesday's number one for over a year.

It's easy to focus on the error against Coventry but how many times has Beadle pulled off a brilliant save to secure a point or three for the Owls?

He's performed well enough, at least, to be given the opportunity to spend time training with England's senior team when he's been on Under-21 duty.

You aren't hampering Charles by not thrusting him into the thick of a play-off push at 19, or by putting immense pressure on him as a more-or-less unchallenged starter at the beginning of the campaign.

It's not a waste of money on a loan fee to have a quality keeper like Beadle, with league experience, as your number one.

Wednesday aren't just developing Beadle for Brighton. They're getting a top performer who, like most keepers, isn't flawless and makes the occasional gaffe. Danny Rohl clearly believes it was pivotal to have him back as first choice.

Any successful Championship campaign typically includes one or two smart young loan signings from the Premier League. In Beadle and Shea Charles, Wednesday have nailed it in a way they have failed to do in previous seasons.

You cannot just take the loan-fee money and use it on permanent deals for younger players, as some have suggested. That's not easy. It's a competitive market. Those players will need to be developed with no guarantee of immediate or long-term success.

In the meantime, do the Owls struggle in the second tier? Or do they want to kick on, as they have done this season?

Charles would've been better off having his own loan spell before being put in as the starter. He might not get that opportunity now.

Yet there's no reason to second guess bringing back Beadle after the Coventry error, or question the return of a loan player who has had a good season for the Owls.