Sheffield Wednesday now out to claim Championship 'scalps'

Garry Monk is hoping that the performance against Manchester City in midweek can provide the psychological blueprint for Sheffield Wednesday’s next four games.
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The Owls shook off a nervy and at times defensively shambolic display against Derby County last Saturday to turn in a much-improved showing when the Premier League champions came to town in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

Just one goal from Pep Giardiola’s side in the second half decided the contest and a more disciplined, focused backline was for the most part the reason behind that.

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It’s back to the Championship this weekend for Wednesday, after a dalliance with one of Europe’s elite, but hugely difficult challenges await Monk’s men in teh coming weeks.

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City is challenged by Julian Borner and Dominic Iorfa of Sheffield Wednesday during the FA Cup Fifth Round match  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Sergio Aguero of Manchester City is challenged by Julian Borner and Dominic Iorfa of Sheffield Wednesday during the FA Cup Fifth Round match  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero of Manchester City is challenged by Julian Borner and Dominic Iorfa of Sheffield Wednesday during the FA Cup Fifth Round match (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

They start with fifth-in-the-Championship Brentford on Saturday and before the international break at the end of the month come a visit of Nottingham Forest (currently 4th) and then league leaders West Brom.

Monk described this one coming up as ‘huge’, just like the run that comes after it, with his old club Swansea and Preston the next two fixtures once the break is over.

“It's a big game, we have got games against all the teams above us so they are huge games,” sad the Owls boss.

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“Every one of them is difficult but if we can raise our game, they are scalps. They are statements we can make and that should be all the motivation that you need going onto a football pitch.”

And playing how they did against Manchester City would go some way towards claiming those scalps.

“It's always a difficult game [at Brentford],” he said. “I've never had an easy game there; that tight pitch, their performance levels at home are very good so whichever way we do it we are going to have to be strong from a defensive point of view.

“It's one where if we can take elements of what we saw on Wednesday in terms of the focus and concentration and the level of commitment we saw, that's what we are going to need in this game, regardless.”