Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
The Owls are looking increasingly doomed this season, but there are some bright notes to focus on as Sheffield Wednesday youngsters are getting valuable opportunities at the club now.
It was always going to be a tough year for Sheffield Wednesday. After their 3-0 defeat at home to Bristol City at the weekend, the Owls are still looking for their first win of the season.
That was Sheffield Wednesday’s first home defeat to Bristol City in 13 years, and it was one of the more dismal and desperate performances we’ve seen from Henrik Pedersen’s side this term.
But, Wednesday fans love their silver linings, and one positive to come from the messy situation at the club is that a number of young players are being given the chance to shine.
Sheffield Wednesday youngsters promoted to first-team squad
As per a report from The Star, Pedersen has been so impressed by four Sheffield Wednesday youngsters in particular that he has promoted them to the first-team setup.
After training well and playing starring roles in Sheffield Wednesday’s valiant Carabao Cup win against Bolton Wanderers, both Ernie Weaver and Reece Johnson have made the step-up this week. As part of a rite of passage, the pair are now officially part of the first-team dressing room, making the move from the Academy room.
They’re joined by goalkeeper Logan Stretch and midfielder Jarvis Thornton. The quartet now follow in the footsteps of Sean Fusire and Gabriel Otegbayo, who were invited to stay in the senior dressing room long-term last season.
With concerns over Sheffield Wednesday’s squad size, it makes perfect sense that Pedersen is leaning on the youth players in S6. Given recent performances, it might not be long until we see them replacing the more senior players in the team, either.
Spirit is fading fast at Sheffield Wednesday after Bristol City defeat
There was a marked difference in the mood and attitude of the Sheffield Wednesday players on Saturday. While games at Hillsborough are tougher than ever thanks to (very valid) fan protests, the display this weekend was lacklustre.
At the start of the season, it seemed the Owls would fight tooth and nail for every point. Even in the face of great adversity, you almost believed they could get results through sheer strength of will alone.
That belief took a massive hit this weekend. Hopefully, it was just an off day for Wednesday, but if they continue to play like that, they will become a League One club very quickly.
However, there is a chance for redemption this week. The Sheffield Wednesday vs Grimsby Town cup match may be plagued by protests and issues caused by Dejphon Chansiri’s ticketing strategy for the game, but the young players will get another great chance to show what they’re capable of.
A win there could be just what’s needed heading into a big away trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth at the weekend.