Sheffield Wednesday's left-side theory a talking point ahead of stern Stockport County test
Sheffield Wednesday welcome Stockport County to Hillsborough on Saturday.
Not long ago, the left-hand side at Sheffield Wednesday looked to be the only area of the pitch that had been all-but sewn-up.
Pre-season outings saw Max Lowe and Louie Barry build a hugely promising understanding, with returned hero Barry Bannan popping up to produce a triangle of encouragement. Callum Slattery would drift in and provide late runs into the box for their left-side trickery to aim at. The left foot of Sil Swinkels opened up the options to engage those in front of him either outside or in.
Six matches into the campaign, three of those figures are out injured. Since Barry’s freak injury at Wycombe, the Owls have named Kieran Morrison and, perhaps more interestingly in the goalless draw with Wigan Athletic on Saturday, Slattery widest left. Northern Ireland international Morrison is a work in progress on that side and is more adept cutting in from the right. Slattery played narrower than has been traditional and by Pedersen’s own admission, Wednesday were sluggish in parts last weekend. It leaves an interesting question for Henrik Pedersen and his coaching staff to answer.
Harry Gray started off the campaign there against Bolton Wanderers and at Leyton Orient and produced bright moments. Back from a concussion absence, the Leeds United loaner is surely back in contention for a start, with Davis Keillor-Dunn a further option having replaced Slattery on Saturday. Jamal Lowe too.
The fact is that there is no like-for-like replacement in terms of the style of threat Barry offers and with the six-loanee rule to contend with, it seems highly likely one of the attacking temporary additions will sit out against Stockport as Jaden Heskey comes back in from his sit-out.
Behind whoever starts, Reece James offers tenacity and can himself get forward, but doesn’t quite possess the burst and threat of Valery. This has perhaps inspired a more lop-sided method, though interestingly more of their attacks at Hillsborough this season have come down the left (39%) rather than the right (34%), though shots are more often taken from the right (17% to 15%).
Away sides coming to Hillsborough favour attacking down Wednesday’s left (39% to 34%). Stockport will arrive with a stern attacking threat and whoever is chosen to partner James on that side will have to contribute defensively, an area of the game both Gray and Morrison are working on.
Six matches in and with injuries having taken its toll, it is no shock that Wednesday’s 18-man revamp is not yet settled. With so many attackers to accommodate and the rotational need of their six-man loan cohort to consider, it will be interesting to see when and if that becomes the case.
All seven of their home goals scored in League One football at this embryonic stage of the season came against Bromley, with goalless efforts coming against Bradford City and Wigan. Until Barry returns from his injury with Max Lowe alongside him, it’ll be upto the team and individual to get the left side rocking once more.