Alex Miller's final word: Sheffield Wednesday are proving the Carabao Cup is not a nuisance

They say the competition is a nuisance, an obstacle to league progression and a waste of everybody’s time.

But try telling that to the Sheffield Wednesday youngsters that got first team minutes under the belt and a win in the wallet at Rochdale’s Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday evening.

Hell, try telling that to the more senior players who got vital miles in the legs, who claimed yet another clean sheet and who kept the momentum building from their ever-so-impressive win at Cardiff just four days before.

Tell that to Elias Kachunga, who will feel more settled, more confident and more at home in a Wednesday shirt after scoring on full debut, to Josh Windass who reduced his Owls goals-per-minute ratio to 116 minutes, or to Garry Monk, who oversaw another win and the crowbarring of yet more distance from last season.

The bottom line is that it could have gone either way. As Monk pointed out to the assembled media in the moments after the match, had the score remained locked at 0-0 the narrative would likely have been so very different, of a competent defensive display marred by a lack of bite up top. A soupçon of the current wave of positivity would’ve been shelved.

But another win, another clean sheet, and whoever it was against, it swells the right to more benefit of the doubt, more backing among the fanbase, you feel. After the travails of last season, that’s important, however many rounds the EFL fixtures bods have stuffed into September.

A nuisance? Try telling Carlos Carvalhal and that 2015/16 season that their League Cup run and that Hillsborough night against Arsenal it’s a nuisance. The Carabao Cup can be a huge force for good. And it has been for Sheffield Wednesday this season.

But there’s no rest for the wicked. Wednesday couldn’t have asked for a much tougher start to their comeback season than by weaving Cardiff away and Watford at home between a cup run.

Speaking to members of the Watford media this week, confidence is high in Hertfordshire and the recently relegated Hornets are coming for nothing less than a win.

Up north, all of a sudden, things are building nicely. They’ll face a stern test against an upbeat Sheffield Wednesday.

MORE FROM OUR WEDNESDAY WRITING TEAM

Flip-flops, fines and an Instagram check: inside the Sheffield Wednesday debut of Ciaran Brennan

Kacha fire, youthful exuberance and noisy coaches: The big takes from Sheffield Wednesday's win over Rochdale

Sheffield Wednesday’s new number 9? Analysts recommend perfect Steven Fletcher replacements

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.