‘Bare bones’ Sheffield Wednesday youngsters have gauntlet laid down after ‘poor’ performance

The young Owls have had a tough start to the campaign, winning just three of their 13 games, and with a goal difference of -21 they are rooted to the foot of the Professional Development League North table.

Wednesday’s latest defeat saw them beaten 3-1 by Peterborough United on Monday, and ‘Thommo’ says that he needs to see more from them, even if they have been reduced to the ‘bare bones’ on many occasions so far.

“It was poor,” Thompson told The Star. “And I know we’re down to the bare bones - we had a couple of trialists and U18s playing - but that’s no excuse. We were poor.

“There was a lack of quality all around, and you just can’t go about your work like that. We’ve spoken to them many times, it’s not been easy, and it’s about getting the consistency to do it every day, every week, every minute of every game.

“We’ve had a lack of numbers… Injuries have played their part, and we’ve had to dip into the U18s quite a lot - so we have been disjointed.

“There have been one or two decent performances, but the consistency levels have been poor in general.

“And if you want to be a player then you’ve got to strive to be that every day, every game - and that’s hard work. There are other players out there that want to steal your living off you.”

Wednesday had Hassan Ayari and Charlie Greenwood on trial for the game against Peterborough, and they may well be given another run out against Crewe Alexandra this month. Crewe are the lowest-scoring side the league, and a win would see the Owls leapfrog them in the table.

New signings, Luke Cook and Sam Durrant, should be back available for Thompson later this month after they had setbacks early in their Owls careers, and they should get a bit of time playing friendlies before the games get back underway in the new year.

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