Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

Get Sheffield Working

Owls players in fear of losing places

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 09 March 2009
By Paul Thompson
Sheffield Wednesday
WEDNESDAY players are in fear of losing their places for tomorrow's test at sixth-placed Preston after the 1-0 defeat by Wolves.
Brian Laws was dissatisfied with his team's first-half show against the Championship leaders.

"The manager obviously wasn't happy at half-time, or after the game; everybody knows there could be a few changes on Tuesday," said Lewis Buxton.

"At
half-time he told all the lads at the back to get grip of Chris Iwelumo. At the end of the game he said basically that we were better in the second half but he wasn't going to stand for how it was in the first half."

Players know that competition for places has grown in recent weeks.

MORE OWLS NEWS: Owls 'no comment' on Dave Allen broadside
MATCH REPORT: Defeat against the leaders highlights how Wednesday have struggled against best sides

Right-back Buxton reflected: "If you don't perform, your place is up for grabs. We were playing against a top-of-the-league side; it just wasn't good enough.

"Early in the season we had a lot of injuries; maybe there wasn't the same competition for places that there is now.

"You have to keep at it week after week. If you have a dip, there are people out to take your place, and if you're out of the side you have to work hard to get back in.

"We'll have to wait and see what happens."

Laws has to decide whether to recall Mark Beevers at centre-half after resting him on Saturday. Frankie Simek is another contender, at right-back.

Akpo Sodje is "games away" from being in sufficient shape to start a game, said Laws, so it looks as if the striker will be on the bench again. Leon Clarke was being assessed today after missing the second half with a tight hamstring and being replaced by Francis Jeffers.

Darren Potter is almost certain to return to central midfield after being ineligible on Saturday.

Got a view? Add your comment below.

READ MORE
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more
Football headlines.
Football gossip.
Blades news
Blades watch 0809 - The season so far
Owls news
Owls watch 0809 - The season so far
Reds news.
Millers news.
More rugby.
More boxing.
Sports columnists.
All sport categories



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 March 2009 10:39 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
Prev
1
Next
1

oz_owl,

09/03/2009 13:20:40
Interesting comments. I felt we played reasonably well on Saturday against a team that was obviously faster, stronger and technically better than us in multiple areas of the field. Probably to be expected given that two of their cast offs are key parts of our first choice team. But it's nice to hear that Laws was upset about how we defended in particular - Iwelumo out-muscled Woody too easily too often, and Buxton (ironically) was caught out of position on a number of occasions.
I also like the fact that his has come out from one of the players, and not from Laws in his post-match comments - I don't think it helps to publicly criticise the performance of the team (particularly on a regular basis like Sturrock did/does) and this appears to be another good example of Laws man-management skills.
Prev
1
Next

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.