Holding fizz but what does it all mean? Alex Miller's Sheffield Wednesday column
Sheffield Wednesday’s holding clash with Cambridge United ended in a draw. But what does it all mean? Alex Miller reports.
Shortly before half five and for reasons nobody seemed quite sure of, a short burst of fireworks crashed loudly outside Sheffield Wednesday’s South Stand and startled the early risers to their midweek match-up with Cambridge United.
A nearby residential celebration perhaps, or perhaps a knowledgeable effort to prise inspiration from an Owls side that had not won a midweek home match since Bonfire Night 2024. Ultimately there were moments that the Catherine wheels fizzed but the cakes and barrages of a sustained display were kept for a later occasion. Injured, tired and no doubt a little headspun, this is a Wednesday side in something of a holding pattern for a new event organiser.
And, as has been the case throughout, there’s a great deal of work to be done when the next chap does clock in. In Cambridge, Wednesday faced a stoic and well-drilled side that knew exactly how they would go about their business. Neil Harris sides are gnarled and resolute and are willing to go through periods of matches without much to celebrate, a classic League One outfit. Where some responses to the layout of the game where to suggest that the little old Us had raised there levels for a trip to hulking Hillsborough, a look at the league table reminds that, actually, they are a side that has churned out what needs to be churned in these early stages of the campaign; impressively so.
The Owls, perhaps idealistic in their approach to playing back in the third tier style thus far, could learn a thing or five from their plucky guests going forward. They grew into the game and ended superior on most metrics, at times laying on patterns of play not seen outside the now faraway thrashings of Bromley and Wimbledon. But the more revealing moments came before. This is a unit that requires a great deal of fine-tuning by its new master, though injuries are undoubtedly crashing the issue. Again, this was never meant to be a finished article with or without the now departed Henrik Pedersen.
On 23 minutes, Bannan looked up in the hope of seeing Keillor-Dunn showing into the gaping space between them. Instead, the loanee had spun and scarpered for a ball over the top. Bannan bellowed. Five minutes later, breaking from a Cambridge corner in a cavalry of five, Billy Mitchell looked up to see Mason Burstow’s back and threw his arms up in exasperation.
These are not pointed, individual dig-outs more than snapshot images of the Owls’ early lack of cohesion or sync or instinct or all of the above. Given the situation, perhaps naturally so. With Cambridge set up to allow Wednesday the ball in their build-up, the home side so often looked ponderous and unattuned in that first half-hour. There were moments in which you wondered if a perplexed-looking Ernie Weaver looked around for a pass with ball at feet any longer he’d have become a 350-game veteran.
And there came the periods of reminder that there are players of quality. Callum Slattery’s quick-thinking and exquisite assist for Burstow’s opener, overlapping exchanges between Reece James and Bannan, the latter’s curling shot to win it that rattled the post.
This ultimately is a naturally imbalanced squad with areas in which they are short - one window into a grand rebuild, battling restrictions and in-window challenges, it was only ever going to be thus - but there are players there that in moments can open matches up in a way a fried Wednesday side didn’t look capable of in some recent outings. There’s something to be worked with.
Simon Wilson’s statement in confirmation of Henrik Pedersen’s sacking outlined the requirement for a ‘recognisable style of play and greater consistency in performances.’ Caretaker boss Matt Hamshaw, a coach with knowledge of League One few can match, employed a slightly more direct and no-nonsense style, bright moments arriving with Wednesday up the pitch and able to express themselves.
To date, too many opposition teams have been comfortable allowing the Owls a huge share of possession and have come away unharmed, doing their own damage in transition moments time and again. Wednesday’s patched-up defence was diligent but again raised concern in the handling of those breaks. Their management of things in the second half left something to be desired. Going forward, there were reasons to be cheerful.
These matches are always curious and a little freer and there’s rarely a great deal to be taken from them, like an afternoon of double-maths with a supply teacher. But Hamshaw’s tweaked and savvy approach did offer a glimpse into a way forward for any new man. Perhaps it’s that bit of League One snarl that perhaps Wednesday could do with tapping into.
There were some sparkles and a couple of rockets, the full fireworks display is one for the future. Bonfire Night this year arrives on November 5. There may well be a new man in the door by then.