Keepers, tactics and Dominic Iorfa – four talking points from Sheffield Wednesday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City

There are several talking points to take out of the fixture, from individual performances to gaps in the crowd.

Let’s take a look at just four of them.

Between the sticks

The shock news an hour before kick-off was that Joe Wildsmith was brought in to make his first appearance for the Owls since August 2018, with Cameron Dawson shuffled to the bench.

Garry Monk gave his reasons for the switch and suggested the pair are locked in a battle for ascendancy between the sticks.

Wildsmith could have done better for Aguero’s winner but made a number of saves in an encouraging outing.

Tactical set-up

A tactical masterclass or too negative from Monk? The vast majority would find themselves veering towards the former, despite the fact Wednesday failed to record a shot on target.

The Owls stuck in where other teams would have capitulated and were an inch or two from taking the match to extra time courtesy of Steven Fletcher’s lunge at Alex Hunt’s late cross.

Monk said that injuries put the brakes on the finishing touches to a gameplan that would have seen positive substitutes made later in the match. Against a team with eight £50m players in their ranks, it was surely a fine effort.

Empty seats

With Manchester City the visitors, surely you’d have expected a sell-out, or at least something close to that?

There were wide-ranging mitigating factors and you can’t blame fans for staying away with the match broadcast live on BBC One.

Those present made a hell of a racket but there’s a sense of togetherness missing at Hillsborough at current – one they’ll do well to piece back together as soon as possible.

Dominic Iorfa

Another strong performance from the all-action defender, back in the side after two matches out of the starting line-up.

Monk hinted he felt consistency was what Iorfa is missing from his game and he may have a point.

But his handling of Aguero and co smacked of a Premier League defender in waiting.