Sheffield Wednesday star man on Joost van Aken and keeping their sheet clean in 2020/21

Sheffield Wednesday are the proud owners of three clean sheets in as many run-outs after a diligent defensive performance saw them take three points from the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time.
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The Owls last won in the Welsh capital back in 2007 back when the Bluebirds played at Ninian Park. They kept Cardiff goalless away from home for the first time since 1984.

Centre-half duo Dominic Iorfa and Tom Lees produced yet another strong defensive performance after their shut-out at Walsall but coming into the team for the first time since 2017, maligned Dutchman Joost van Aken produced a classy performance on the left of the back three.

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Reigning player of the year Iorfa said: “I thought he was brilliant today.

Owls first Day Celebrations after a first day win at Cardiff from Dominic Iorfa,Joost Van Aken,Liam Palmer and Tom Lees. Pic Steve EllisOwls first Day Celebrations after a first day win at Cardiff from Dominic Iorfa,Joost Van Aken,Liam Palmer and Tom Lees. Pic Steve Ellis
Owls first Day Celebrations after a first day win at Cardiff from Dominic Iorfa,Joost Van Aken,Liam Palmer and Tom Lees. Pic Steve Ellis

“I haven’t really played with him but he came in today, defended well, he was solid and as you saw, he’s really good on the ball as well, so when there was time to play you saw him pick a pass to the strikers.

“That helps us massively, especially when it’s a bit scrappy, you need someone who can get the ball down and play and we saw that today.

“If you’re playing three at the back, you need to be comfortable in possession and he’s very good and very comfortable in possession.

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“He did very well today, against the physical challenge he came out on top and in possession he didn’t really give the ball away as well, which is key in this kind of formation.”

Speaking on the defence in general, Iorfa said the clean sheet is one strike towards a target the side have set themselves this season.

“I think it comes down to us being organised,” he said. “It’s not just us defenders, it’s the whole team shape. We pressed them well, we won a lot of second balls. You come to a place like this and youve got to deal with the first ball, but it comes down to defenders picking up the second balls and playing from there. They did that really well today.

“Defensively as a whole [last season], we leaked too many goals and that’s been a big target for us, to get as many clean sheets as we can, and we’ve got off to a great start.”

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