Sheffield Wednesday: Mowbray unhappy over Owls old boy's '˜naive' away day

Old boy Reda Johnson has been criticised for cheering on the Owls in their pulsating draw at play-off rivals Derby County.
Former Owls favourite Reda JohnsonFormer Owls favourite Reda Johnson
Former Owls favourite Reda Johnson

The Coventry City defender, who clocked up 87 appearances in his three-and-a-half-year spell at Hillsborough, was in the away end as Wednesday drew 1-1 at the iPro Stadium last weekend. The Benin international wore an Owls shirt and had his picture taken with a number of Wednesdayites.

Some Sky Blues fans blasted Johnson, who is out of contract with the Sky Blues this summer, for choosing to support the Owls rather than his own teammates at Doncaster Rovers.

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Coventry boss Tony Mowbray said: “As his manager I’m disappointed.

“I have seen some pictures of him in a Sheffield Wednesday shirt with his arms up in the air in their crowd. I’m not sure why he did that and I think he needs to be more mindful.

“It’s no disrespect to our club really; he’s injured and he doesn’t have to come to watch our matches. He can go where he wants but it seemed a little bit ill-judged.

“It’s a delicate situation for us because we threatened to do so well this season and we have fallen away and disappointed our support base.

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“I wasn’t there so I couldn’t feel the emotion of that moment. All their fans might have recognised him and started singing his name. But if it was a self indulgent thing you wonder what he’s doing.”

Mowbray has promised to speak to Johnson regarding his actions but added: “I won’t fall out with Reda on a personal level over it. It’s not a big issue for me. I’ve no problem with him going to their game but it’s maybe a bit naive because of the social media world we live in.

“Twenty years ago no-one would have know about it but today you have to be careful.”