MASSIVE Massimo Luongo, crucial Connor Wickham and SKY's love for Barry Bannan - SEVEN big talking points from Sheffield Wednesday’s away win over Bristol City

I had a look at some of the talking points from a successful trip to the Soutwest this weekend:

This 3-5-2 ain’t too shabby

‘And Wednesday name an unchanged starting XI’ isn’t something that we’ve heard much of late, but the decision to keep the same players and same formation was certainly a wise one from Monk.

They were able to maintain the consistency and momentum from the Nottingham Forest draw, and it seems to be a formation that fits the personnel available and the way that the manager wants to play.

Both Kadeem Harris and Jacob Murphy have stepped up their defensive game as wingbacks, and it’s working out nicely so far.

Wildsmith is ready

He’s had a long wait, it’s not been an easy road, but Joe Wildsmith certainly seems to be staking his claim for the number one shirt at Wednesday.

Despite conceding in both games so far since the restart, Wildsmith has done his job impressively between the sticks after taking over from Cameron Dawson, and won’t make many better saves than the one he made against Nathan Baker. He also made another exceptional save prior to the goal, however wasn’t able to do anything about the follow-up.

The 24-year-old should keep his place against West Bromwich Albion, and he’ll be hoping for a clean sheet next time.

Wickham’s looking deadly

Wednesdayites are finally seeing more from Connor Wickham now than they did in the early stages of his loan return to Hillsborough, and the forward looks to have really upped his game during the lockdown as he sought to get himself back in goalscoring shape.

He’s looking sharper, more determined and more confident, and the Owls will be hoping that he can continue this kind of form in order to replace Steven Fletcher given his exit at the end of this month.

Also, in a nice little stat for the 27-year-old, Wickham has now scored in back-to-back games for the first time since November 2016 while in the Premier League with Crystal Palace.

Sky Sports do like a bit of Barry Bannan

Barry Bannan won the Sky Sports Man of the Match award back in December when the Owls were last televised in the Championship, and he scooped the gong once again earlier today for his efforts in the victory at Ashton Gate.

Bannan has won a number of MotM awards from Sky over the last couple of years, and to be fair to him he was at his dynamic best today as he ran things from the middle of the park alongside goalscorer, Massimo Luongo.

The Scotsman was also namechecked by Lee Johnson after the game as an ‘orchestrator’ following his role in the The Robins’ defeat.

Wednesday love the cameras!

Not only did the Owls’ victory in Bristol extend Wednesday’s unbeaten run in televised league games, but it also followed the W-D-W form that they’ve maintained over the course of the season so far.

SWFC have now been on TV eight times in the 2019/20 campaign – not including the midweek red button service – and are yet to lose any of them. Now, if that pattern was to continue then a draw against Swansea City next weekend could well be on the cards.

We wanted better crosses, and we got them

One major criticism of the Owls after the 1-1 draw with Forest was the quality of delivery in to the box, both from set piece and from open play. Too many balls in were inaccurate and/or wasted, and that needed to be improved.

Monk said after the game that it was something that needed improving on, and it seems to have worked. Both of Wednesday’s goals came from corners – both of which were good quality – and they looked a lot more of a threat out wide. With some of the inaccurate crosses causing trouble as well.

They’ve really missed Luongo

Massimo Luongo is one of those players that you don’t really know how important he is until he’s not there anymore. These last two matches have really proven that.

Wednesday have now won 11 of the 20 matches that the Australian has played in the Championship this season (losing only five), whereas they’ve won only two of the eighteen that he’s missed, and lost 10 of them.

When the former Queens Park Rangers man is around, he gives Bannan room to do what Bannan does best – dictate. Luongo is able to tidy up, do a bit of the dirty work, and let his midfield partner roam and create in the centre of the park. He’s vital to how Wednesday want to play, and like the man he’s replaced – Sam Hutchinson – isn’t afraid to get stuck in either.

He’s also got three league goals, a record only bettered by Murphy (5) and the departing Fletcher (13).

MORE REACTION FROM THAT WIN AT BRISTOL CITY

Why Bristol boss namechecked Owls star

Garry Monk hails shift in changing room attitude

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