Tough tackles, classy Hutch and an Owls rarity – SIX talking points from Sheffield Wednesday’s huge win over Preston North End

Sheffield Wednesday are within touching distance of escaping the relegation zone this morning, and it was a big team effort on Saturday to pick up a vital three points.
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The Owls did just enough at Hillsborough against Preston North End, with a rare Liam Palmer goal proving the difference as Neil Thompson’s side picked up another victory on home soil.

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Wednesday’s win means that they’re now just four points away from 21st-placed Nottingham Forest, and have a game in hand, with February providing a big opportunity for them to try and climb out of the bottom three.

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There were plenty of positives from the latest win at S6, here are a few talking points…

Hillsborough

Remember when we were talking about Wednesday’s home form? About how abysmal it was and how it needed to be fixed?

Well Thompson’s come along and fixed it. The Owls have now won four home games on the bounce for the first time since back at the start of 2016, and have kept clean sheets in three of them.

Sheffield Wednesday picked up a big win over Preston North End. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)Sheffield Wednesday picked up a big win over Preston North End. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Sheffield Wednesday picked up a big win over Preston North End. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Obviously home advantage is sadly less prevalent now given the lack of supporters, but finding some form on their own patch will definitely bring with it a confidence boost. Long may it continue.

Liam Palmer!

And he could’ve had two!

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It’s been 3,430 days since Palms last got on the scoresheet – his last was in a 3-1 League One victory over MK Dons back in 2011.

After a year where there has been so little to smile about, you’d have to be a cold-hearted individual to not raise a smile to the Owls academy graduate, and lifelong Wednesdayite, ending a very lengthy goal drought.

The 29-year-old said afterwards that he wasn’t sure why he was there in a position to score, and that he’s glad he finished it off because he might have gotten a telling off otherwise… But as it happened, it was a case of right place, right time.

Character

With everything going off, the lack of manager, the poor showing away at Coventry City and the news of the latest wage situation, it was really good to see the effort that was shown by every single player on the field on the way to victory.

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‘Thommo’ told the media that he was delighted with the response that they showed following the defeat to the Sky Blues, and fans will have been delighted to see the levels of commitment on display.

Callum Pater-run

And speaking of commitment, a special mention needs to go to Callum Paterson… He’s been a goalscorer for Wednesday in recent weeks, but this time he turned provider.

Technically, Pato didn’t get the assist for Palmer’s goal, but it was his monstrously long throw that reached Tom Lees and then Elias Kachunga before falling at the defender’s feet.

But aside from that, the Scotsman put in one helluva shift against the Lilywhites. Over the course of his 83 minutes on the field, it felt like he covered pretty much every blade of grass on the pitch, and was a constant thorn in the side of the visitors with his high pressing and closing down.

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No Wednesday player won more aerial battles than he did (8), and despite running his socks off for almost the entire game, he still looked a bit gutted to be coming off. Cannot fault him.

That backline

They were good weren’t they? Rock solid and full of confidence. Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson and Osaze Urhoghide hardly put a foot wrong, and were as much to thank for the win as the goalscorer.

No player on the field today made more interceptions than Lees or Urhoghide (4), while Hutchinson made more clearances (7) than anybody else… Between them they made almost as many tackles as the Preston team combined - attempting seven tackles over the course of 90 minutes and completing six of them.

There is squad rotation to think of for Thompson, of course, but I think he’ll be reticent to change things at the back going into the game against Bournemouth next week, even if the likes of Chey Dunkley are back available for selection again.

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Lees looks like he’s back to his old self again this season, Hutchinson looked classy at the heart of defence and Urhoghide performed like a seasoned pro rather than a 20-year-old rookie. It was great to see.

Some tasty tackles

There were some belting challenges throughout the game. In total there were 38 attempted tackles and 22 completed… Barry Bannan, who played his usual lynchpin role in the centre of the park, was involved in one of the most enjoyable parts of the game when he was crunched in a fair challenge by Ryan Ledson, only to get right back up and do the same to him – winning the ball back.

Bannan made more successful tackles (4) than any other player on the park, and finished the game with a 100% tackle success rate. He wasn’t the only one though. In total, eight different players completed at least one successful tackle yesterday, showing their commitment to the cause and that they were prepared to get stuck in in order to get a result. And the skipper led the way.

Now it’s another quick turnaround for ‘Thommo’ and the team as they prepare to make the long trip down to Bournemouth for Tuesday night’s game, and a tough task awaits against a Cherries side that are probably due a return to form.

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