Did previous Sheffield Wednesday managers missed a trick with killer combination?

And they suggest Garry Monk, Tony Pulis and Neil Thompson may have missed a trick in their time as Sheffield Wednesday manager this season.

Because in a side that has struggled for goals all season, it seems their most prolific strike partnership was barely utilised before the emergence of Darren Moore

Jordan Rhodes and Josh Windass started in the same Owls team together only twice – in the first two games of the season – before his appointment last month.

They’ve quickly built up an understanding and after the 5-0 drubbing of playoff-chasing Cardiff on Monday, in which Rhodes scored and Windass claimed two assists, have 12 goal contributions between them just seven starts together.

There are other factors at play of course, not least the form and fitness of not only the forward pair, but the entire squad. But the statistics are remarkable.

Speaking to The Star ahead of Wednesday’s trip to QPR this weekend, new Owls boss Moore said he was happy with how the pair have gelled together since his arrival at the club.

“They’re two different types of player and with the attributes they both have,” he said. “I thought they could compliment each other and have a good level of understanding.

“They understand each other’s games and it’s worked and long may that continue.”

Monday evening’s Cardiff win was only the first time the side had scored more than two goals in a game this season. Sat seven points shy of safety with a game in hand on fourth-bottom Birmingham, Moore and Wednesday will hope for more to come from the front two.

“For me, it’s been about coming into the football club [and having a look], players have got their favoured positions, players have got their understanding,” Moore said.

“But sometimes when you come into the club you’re lifting your head trying to look at different dynamics and different positions where players can play. It’s about finding combinations of players, the understanding between players and all of that.

“All this happens in time at a football club. I just looked at it and thought at the time the both of them would compliment each other.”

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