Give the DJ a promotion! - Heroes & Villains from Sheffield Wednesday’s win over Rochdale

But who were the heroes and villains on the night in Greater Manchester as the Owls picked up a third consecutive clean sheet for the first time since February 2019 – it turns out the first hero was discovered before kickoff…

Rochdale’s DJ

Whoever was in charge of the playlist at Spotland played an absolute blinder last night… The music was tailored to their opponents in beautiful fashion as the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Milburn, Reverend and the Makers and more belted out of the Crown Oil sound system.

If you looked closely, SWFC goalkeeper, Cameron Dawson, could be seen drumming along at one point. So you know it was appreciated – even more so given the amount of local lads who were in the matchday squad.

Liam Palmer

Not only was his opening assist an absolute dream, but Palmer’s overall performance was good as he returned to the starting XI, and his ‘nailed it’ reaction as he enjoyed Elias Kachunga’s goal was nice to see.

With over 260 appearances for Wednesday now, the lifelong Owl is living the dream at his boyhood club, and the fact that he put in such a good shift while donning the captain’s armband – and was so vocal as well – is great to see.

Speaking about his skipper last night, Monk said, “He’s great… Since day one he’s been a good pro. He’s obviously been here a long time, and he can pass that experience on to the lads.”

All the kids

Five players 20 or under played last night, and there were five teenagers in the 18-man matchday squad. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Liam Shaw and Alex Hunt deserve a special mention for their performances, but the debutants – Ciaran Brennan and Conor Grant – couldn’t be faulted either.

The fact that they looked so composed and confident shows their development through the ranks at Middlewood Road, and ‘Fizz’ is looking like a very promising young acquisition for the Owls. 2-0 with 10 academy graduates and an average squad age of 23.5 is no joke.

Goalscorers

Can’t name heroes and not name the goalscorers can we? Both Elias Kachunga and Josh Windass both took their goals really well, and last night means that all of Wednesday’s senior strikers (Jordan Rhodes being the other) have already scored this season despite being only three games in.

Windass is averaging a goal every 116 minutes in SWFC colours, and that’s not to be sniffed at.

And a villain?

Tough one on such a good night, but probably the fixture schedule… The sheer regularity of games at the minute takes a bit of a shine off a cup run to be honest – especially with Wednesday’s attentions elsewhere due to that point deduction business.

Oh, and it’s obviously sad that nobody was there to see that absolute peach of a Palmer assist.

More Owls news….

11 changes?! – Monk explains wholesale Owls switch-up

Plenty of 8s - Joe Crann's SWFC ratings

SWFC Live - More reaction to another win

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