Sunderland comments paint clear picture of Sheffield Wednesday strife - they plan to ‘dominate’

But those are the words used by Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray as he prepares for the Black Cats’ trip to S6 on Friday.

The Owls are still on the hunt for their first outright win of the campaign after eight league and two cup matches and will face a side sat fifth in the table.

And while the Wednesday camp are quick to extol the need for continued patience in these early stages of the campaign, Mowbray’s view is one that won’t be argued by many on the terraces.

“Sheffield Wednesday are fighting for their lives at the moment,” Mowbray said.

“They are having some results that they will want to improve on. So we know that they will be right up for the next game and they have a big stadium, big crowd, emotional and passionate supporters.”

Emotional it may well be. A disappointing defeat at fellow slow starters Swansea City saw supporters chant for the dismissal of manager Xisco and again heard protests against the stewardship of owner Dejphon Chansiri.

A ‘black balloon’ protest is being planned online for a match that will be played in front of Sky television cameras.

Wedesday will hope to have the likes of Josh Windass and Dominic Iorfa back to full fitness after injury issues that saw them drop to the bench for the weekend’s 3-0 defeat.

Mowbray continued: “We have to go there and make life difficult for them and see if we can dominate and see if we can find a way to win.

“We have been doing that okay over recent weeks and so we will go there with the belief and the confidence that we can go to Sheffield and win. That said, we know it is going to be tough.”