Much-debated tactical decision explained by Sheffield Wednesday manager
More analysis from SWFC’s draw against Wigan Athletic...
A tactical decision debated by Owls fans since the draw against Wigan Athletic has been explained.
Sheffield Wednesday are top of League One after the first six games of the new season, with four wins, one draw and one defeat so far. Given the huge rebuilding job over the summer, it has been a better start than most would have expected.
Although the goalless outing against Wigan at Hillsborough on Saturday was disappointing, it was another point added to their total and a first clean sheet of the season. Huddersfield Town’s draw at Mansfield Town meant Henrik Pedersen’s men held their place at the top of the table.
One selection decision supporters raised from the weekend was picking Callum Slattery on the left flank rather than centrally where he excelled early in the campaign, scoring against Leyton Orient and Bromley. Slattery, a summer signing from Motherwell, had one of his quieter games since joining and was withdrawn on the hour-mark.
Explaining his logic, Pedersen said: “The thinking was he could be the third part of the midfield. Defensively, how we did it, we did 4-4-2, and then when we were on the ball, he could go in as the second 10.
“So the offensive job from him was not any different from the past games. I would like to have Kieran (Morrison) on the right side because I think this is his best position, and that's why Slattery started on the left side defensively, but he was always central when we won the ball.”
With Wigan on top after half-time, Slattery was taken off along with Mason Burstow and the injured Yan Valery. Further changes followed with Davis Keillor-Dunn and Harry Gray coming on but overall no one made much of a impact.
On the triple change on the hour, Pedersen told The Star: “I think in this moment we we were a little bit on the back-foot instead of on the front-foot. That's why I tried to change to get more energy in the pitch, to get more runs and to get more players in the box.”
Wednesday are back in action at Hillsborough on Saturday against eighth-placed Stockport County.