Sheffield Wednesday legend Des Walker weighs in on performance debate - stresses promotion need
Sheffield Wednesday entered the international break second in the League One table.
Sheffield Wednesday and England legend Des Walker is unbothered by the form of his former club as they seek to bounce back into the Championship - but stressed the need to battle towards better home form.
Walker spent eight years at Hillsborough, leaving the club the season after they were relegated from the Premier League. Under new ownership, the club are now operating to a long-term mission to return there - and have made a positive start from difficult circumstances in League One.
A haul of 14 points from their seven league outings sees them second in the table and they took a win from their opening EFL Trophy match at Salford City on Tuesday evening.
“It’s been a great start,” Walker said. “They just need to sort out their home form and make Hillsborough a fortress. Away from home they’re getting great results, but can you keep going away from home and getting those results for an entire season? Not necessarily. If your home form is strong, anything you pick up away from home keeps you near the top of the league.
“They just need to turn the home form around, and really that comes down to scoring goals. They’ve had two 0-0s in the last two games but, as the old saying goes, if you can’t win, don’t lose. They’ve managed to do that.
“The club is in good nick. The fans need to play their part and get behind them at home rather than making the players a little nervous. It’s been a great start all round and you can feel that positivity around the city. People are starting to talk about Sheffield Wednesday again, and that’s brilliant for everyone concerned.”
Despite their good run of results, some Wednesday fans have expressed concern with the manner of recent performances, with a smattering of boos heard after goalless draws with Wigan Athletic and Stockport County - with wider debate had across social media more generally.
Walker sees no reason to panic as of yet and in an interview conducted in part for The Star via Players Time, he said: “It doesn’t really matter as long as you get the three points. You’ve got an objective. Everyone wants to play great football and, ideally, everyone wants to play winning football. But the objective is to win football matches.
“Sheffield Wednesday need to get into the Championship because that demonstrates the progress of the club. That’s important for the fans, the city, the people who have put their money in and everybody connected with the club. Progress brings confidence, and confidence is key in football.”