Dirty tricks, long throws and Jedward: SEVEN big takes from Sheffield Wednesday's draw with QPR

The frustration on Garry Monk’s face was there for all to see on Saturday evening after his Sheffield Wednesday side conceded late to shed two points and draw 1-1 with QPR at Hillsborough.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Owls head into the two-week international break on minus seven points, having clawed four points back on the safety mark – they’re now eight off Barnsley in 21st – with 42 games left to play.

Macauley Bonne’s injury time equaliser was a sickener, but what are the big talking points from a sodden afternoon in S6? Let’s take a look at the big takes of our man Alex Miller.

Crock shocker

Its all arms Owls pair of new boy Callum Paterson and Josh Windass and Rangers Rob Dickie. Pic Steve Ellis.Its all arms Owls pair of new boy Callum Paterson and Josh Windass and Rangers Rob Dickie. Pic Steve Ellis.
Its all arms Owls pair of new boy Callum Paterson and Josh Windass and Rangers Rob Dickie. Pic Steve Ellis.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When it rains, it pours; both literally and metaphorically in S6 yesterday, because Middlewood Road may well look something like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan on Monday morning.

The team news confirmed The Star’s report that there had been late injuries in the Wednesday camp in Dominic Iorfa and Izzy Brown, but when Iorfa’s replacement Liam Shaw was injured and Shaw’s replacement Liam Palmer was injured, two subs were used by the start of the second half.

All three had been used by the time Tom Lees hobbled off in injury time, just seconds before QPR’s gut-punch leveller. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was taken off for tactical reasons but was seen hobbling down the tunnel at full-time. You couldn’t write it.

Fine margins

So many things went against Wednesday yesterday. Another tale of woe? Perhaps. The fact is they need to learn to start getting over the line in these games, but still. It felt rough.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Massimo Luongo hit the bar with a real chance with a few minutes remaining. Lees hobbled off seconds before QPR equalised from an area he has dominated all season. The Owls lost their legs having been forced to use two subs early. There were marginal calls from the referee that went against the Owls.

Unlike in so many matches over the past few months, Wednesday went into the final minutes of the game looking strong and confident of keeping their one-goal lead and it felt

All in all, they can count themselves a little unlucky.

Mass-nificent

Apologies for the above. Let’s move on and talk about Massimo Luongo.

Because while Josh Windass has been voted the club’s player of the month for September, few would have decried a first gong for the Australian, who has been all class this season so far.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Playing a different role to the one he was used in last season, he’s been a Rolls Royce in the middle of midfield and continued in that vain against his former club QPR.

Throw you own way

Big unit, big character, big role to fulfil. What we didn’t know was that Callum Paterson had a big ol’ throw to offer Sheffield Wednesday.

In a first half that could put Jedward to sleep, his throw-ins, sent to threaten a QPR defence that has struggled with set pieces of late, were just about the worthiest talking point.

Just about, that is, because with all eyes drawn to the Scot early doors, he came through with several of the promises he had made after his signing; that he’d be bullish, aggressive and all-action.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That first goal and indeed that first real chance will have to wait, but within five minutes in an Owls shirt he had been kicked in the face, barged the keeper over and exchanged a stern word or two with an opposition centre-half. He’s a one-an advert for tighter concussion regulations. Wednesday have missed that particular brand of housery.

Dirty tricks?

QPR wandered out onto the Hillsborough pitch well after 3pm. At three minutes past the referee interrupted the Rs’ goalkeeping coach midway through a training routine with Seny Dieng in their net. It was farcical.

For them to do similar in turning up for the second half late would suggest it wasn’t an accident. Adam Reach believed it to be mind games.

“Wasn’t great, was it?” shrugged a frustrated Monk.

Reach-ing wide

The experiment is over to the sound of a thousand rejoicing Wednesdayites. With four senior strikers now on the books, it seems Adam Reach is seen as a wide man again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Operating as left wing-back in a system that will surely suit his attributes, Reach had his best afternoon of the season in a position he knows.

It was needs-must for a while there, but with Paterson added to Windass, Kachunga and Rhodes, with a striker expected to be added to the mix before the domestic transfer window closes on October 16, Reach can now surely concentrate on making that position his own.

Stats harsh?

Monk has repeatedly made it clear he wishes to draw a definite line between last season and this. And to be fair why wouldn’t he, the second half of last season was an abomination.

Taken as a whole, the home form of 2020 is beyond atrocious; one win in 14 games, six goals scored to 23 conceded et cetra and so on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The question is whether this vastly changed Wednesday side be judged on the results of last season. Should Callum Paterson, Izzy Brown, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and co be lumped in with the failings of those they have replaced?

No ‘happy-clapping’ here; this new Owls outfit has a long, long way to go in so many areas and Monk surely has questions to answer over how those numbers have come about.

But the feeling is that something is changing at Hillsborough is justified and given another 30 seconds grace, all and sundry would be heralding a resolute defensive performance and three clean sheets in four matches.

That all-important home win still out of grasp but another stat shows Wednesday are unbeaten in two games this season; one against the title favourites. Work to be done, 21 to go.

MORE FROM OUR WEDNESDAY WRITING TEAM

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.

Chris Holt, Football Editor