Sheffield Wednesdsay: How football's sack race can skew results

The sacking culture that currently envelopes the Football League is bringing with it extra problems for those managers still in jobs and preparing for games.
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is under pressureIpswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is under pressure
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is under pressure

Though most bosses will, publicly at least, keep holdof the ‘one game at a time’ mantra, there will always be a look ahead to upcoming fixtures.

And while another cliche - ‘there are no easy games in the Championship’ - is often rattled out, deep down there will at least be a feeling of ‘that should be a win for us’ entering the manager’s mindset.

Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal on the touch lineOwls head coach Carlos Carvalhal on the touch line
Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal on the touch line
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Back in early October, a future trip for Sheffield Wednesday to struggling Derby County would have been one of those.

Fast forward a few weeks and a ‘new’ man in charge - Steve McClaren making a return to the iPro - gives a lift to a team who had until recently been terrible and the prospect of three points, that had previously been handed out with such generosity, is banished.

For another example, see the draw with hitherto struggling Cardiff City and the added factor of their new manager being former Blade Neil Warnock. A point gained that many would have expected to have been three not long before.

The scenario is skewing results and the Owls, of course won’t be alone in feeling the effects of another hurdle bosses have to manage in this difficult division.

Steve McClaren has turned around the fortunes of Derby CountySteve McClaren has turned around the fortunes of Derby County
Steve McClaren has turned around the fortunes of Derby County
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In a couple of weeks time the same thing could happen again to Wednesday as they are due to travel to a Wolves side who should by then have a new man in place with Paul Lambert and ex-Owls skipper Nigel Pearson among the leading contenders.

This weekend’s opposition provide a different proposition, but one with the ‘sack race’ looming large over it.

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is under increasing pressure from fans after a poor start to their Championship campaign and a draw against Rotherham on Saturday, the Millers themselves with a new man at the helm in Kenny Jackett, did little to help the Barnsley man’s cause.

Now Wednesday have to prepare for another aspect of the sacking culture - a manager under pressure to gain results and quickly or face losing his job.

Maybe there are no easy games in the Championship.