Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield after their 5-0 home defeat by Coventry:

"They're a very, very strong team and we gave ourselves a difficult beginning by being one down in three minutes.

"I still thought after the second goal we had the belief and we continued, but we didn't have the clinical level they had, and then the third goal was a clear offside goal and it took the belief out of the team.

"We have to remember that we have to perform at our maximum level every time to get something.

[On the protest] "The general protest I understand, and I'm happy that it didn't take longer than it did and we could come back to play the game."

Image source, Opta

Coventry could go top of the Championship, for a few hours at least, with a win at second-bottom Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The unbeaten Sky Blues romped to a 4-0 win at Millwall on Wednesday night to go second, two points behind Middlesbrough, who visit Portsmouth later on Saturday afternoon.

City's 22 goals scored in eight games, and +15 goal difference are by far the best, not forgetting they have played out two 0-0 draws already.

Wednesday were seconds away from an eye-catching win at Birmingham on Tuesday, which would have hauled them out of the relegation zone, only for a 99th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw to extend Blues unbeaten home run to 28 matches.

They have taken four points from their past two away games, but last Saturday's 1-1 draw against QPR was their first point, and first goal of the season at Hillsborough after three straight defeats to begin their home campaign.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost just three of their past 11 home league games against Coventry City (W6 D2), though the Owls have lost both in the past two seasons.

• Coventry City have won four of their last five league games against Sheffield Wednesday (L1), scoring exactly two goals in each victory during that time.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their past three Championship matches (W1 D2), and will be looking to go four in a row without defeat for the first time since December 2024 (4).

• Coventry City have only won one of their past four Championship away games against Yorkshire sides (D1 L2), although that one victory did come in this fixture last season (2-1 in February).

• Frank Lampard is unbeaten against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship (P3 W2 D1), only facing Hull City (5) and QPR (4) more often without losing as a manager in the division.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen said he had to look at the big picture after the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser at Birmingham City.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield:"We deserved more. When you are 2-1 up and we've played 99 minutes, of course you can be disappointed, but in the big picture you have to be proud of one point away at Birmingham.

"We had a good beginning but then conceded when Harry [Amass] should have tackled a little bit harder with his right foot, but how we worked after they scored, and how we stayed together, fought for each other and stayed in the game …

"We came back in the game, 1-1 after good pressing, quick transition and great goal from Jamal [Lowe].

"George [Brown] cannot play all the time because it's too much for him, but he came in and it's fantastic that he scored again."

Rob Staton
BBC Sheffield Sports Editor

Image source, Getty Images

Another month and another crisis moment at Sheffield Wednesday. The players have been informed they won't be paid on time for September.

They already faced delayed wages for March, May, June and July.

They deserve better. This is a group who have had to face all sorts. A shambles of a pre-season, including not being able to use the training ground initially and no typical pre-season friendlies.

The decimation of the squad with key players leaving or being sold for peanuts. Having to play extended minutes because the squad is so small.

Established pros are giving their all. Young players, who probably had no expectation of playing in the Championship weeks ago, are now being relied on as they produce heroic performances belying their inexperience.

I believe some of the players have also gone above and beyond to support staff behind the scenes who have faced similar problems with their salaries.

Wednesday are now under five EFL embargoes., external Just when fans thought things could not get any worse behind the scenes, they are.

Is there a crumb of comfort, though, for those want a change of ownership?

It's believed by multiple sources we have spoken to recently that Dejphon Chansiri's intention was to try to continue as owner.

However, if the owner cannot pay the bills, doesn't it make it harder to do that?

It seems the boycotting of Carabao Cup games, food and merchandise are having an impact.

Whilst this is clearly bringing short-term pain in terms of payroll, is it possibly making it more likely that Chansiri will have to consider his options?

There is no way of asking him about it and he hasn't said anything publicly since releasing a statement in June.

Typically, when you suggest this cannot go on, you're sent the Mick McCarthy meme in response: "It can."

With the new football regulator lurking, the embargoes stacking up and no sign of any fresh money arriving, perhaps the new response should be, "it can't"?

Image source, Opta

Birmingham will seek to get back on track when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to St Andrew's on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

Blues went down 3-0 at Coventry on Saturday to fall to 11th in the Championship, though remain within striking distance of the play-offs.

They are seeking to extend the longest unbeaten home record in the top four tiers of English football as the second-bottom Owls come to town.

Chris Davies' men will need to be wary, however, Wednesday have picked up five points from their past four league fixtures, with four of those coming in their two most recent away games.

• Birmingham City have lost just one of their past six home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D1), a 0-1 reverse in October 2020.

• After their 2-0 win in February 2024, Sheffield Wednesday could win back-to-back league meetings with Birmingham City for the first time since February 2016.

• Birmingham are unbeaten in their past 28 home league games (W23 D5), their second-longest ever such run, after a spell of 36 games from October 1970 to April 1972.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their past seven away league games (D4 L2), though that was their last at Portsmouth (2-0).

• Sheffield Wednesday have only lost one of their past 13 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W6 D6), a 0-1 defeat to Blackburn in December 2024.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen said his side's resilience impressed him as they followed up their first league win of the season with a 1-1 draw at home against QPR.

Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It was a generally strong performance. It has been very difficult at home but we played with strong discipline and showed strong belief.

"Defensively we were very solid with good discipline and we showed the next step on the ball and created chances

"The second half we had a difficult 10 minutes at the start but we worked back. Altogether, it was a strong home game.

"We have showed we can compete with teams. The boys showed a big, big mentality. But we cannot have 14 shots and create five big chances and have only one goal."

Image source, Opta

After securing their first win of the season last weekend at Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday be targeting another three points against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Queens Park Rangers are 14 places above Wednesday in ninth and are seeking a fourth win on the bounce having beaten Stoke City, Wrexham and Charlton Athletic in recent weeks.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their last six home league games against QPR (D3 L2), beating them 2-1 in December 2023.

• After winning four consecutive league games against Sheffield Wednesday in 2018 and 2019, QPR have now won just one of their last seven against the Owls (D2 L4).

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost eight of their last 10 home league games (W1 D1), including all three without scoring this season. Only in the 1999-00 Premier League campaign have the Owls ever lost each of their first four at Hillsborough to start a league season.

• Having failed to win any of their first three league games this season, QPR have now won each of their last three by an aggregate score of 7-2.

• QPR's Championship games have seen 22 goals so far this season (10 for, 12 against), with only Wrexham's matches producing more (23).

Image source, BBC Sport

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images/Rex Features

There has not been a lot of joy for Sheffield Wednesday fans over the last few months. Yet the emergence of teenagers Ernie Weaver and George Brown will have no doubt raised a smile after the win at Portsmouth.

Both players were fantastic, did not look overawed by their first Championship starts and played key roles in the victory.

Let's get the most important thing out of the way first. As a proud Yorkshireman myself, it's exceptional that both players sound like they made 300 appearances for the club in the 1970s.

The old-school feel of their names matches perfectly with their style of play. Energy, physicality, effort, and no lack of skill. They are Yorkshire lads, in name and nature.

Weaver had a few good battles with Colby Bishop, a great test for your first senior league start. Brown took his goal brilliantly, showing real composure and a killer instinct with his finish.

Both players shone in Wednesday's Carabao Cup campaign.

I recall talking at length with former Owl Ross Wallace about Brown's potential after his showing against Premier League Leeds. He just has something - an 'it' factor. He's got the size, the athleticism.

For a player who admitted it was a "shock" to be given a chance to sign professional terms at Sheffield Wednesday, he looks like an individual long destined to get his chance at this level.

I spoke to him after the game and was really impressed. He sounded like someone taking everything in his stride.

I definitely wouldn't have been so level-headed after scoring in my first start in the Championship with family behind the goal watching on. He talked about dreaming of the moment, before quickly pivoting to wanting more experiences like this and the need to build on the win.

An old head on young shoulders, which you'd expect from a Yorkshireman called George (or Ernie).

Despite the win at the weekend, nobody is thinking this will be anything other than a season of struggle at Hillsborough.

There's nothing to suggest a takeover is likely any time soon (quite the opposite, actually). The monthly 'will everyone get paid?' question will rear its head again next week. A points deduction at some point is inevitable.

The performance of Wednesday's young players at the weekend, at least, will have provided a real sense of pride for many.

A day for the fans – who in the words of the impressive Brown, deserved that experience.

Sheffield Wednesday forward George Brown says scoring on his Championship debut to help the side claim their first victory of the season is "what you dream of".

Brown scored the Owls' second goal against Portsmouth on Saturday as they won 2-0 at Fratton Park.

The 19-year-old, who is enjoying his first season with the senior squad after being promoted from the under-21s, took possession when Pompey defender Conor Shaughnessy pulled up injured and finished for his maiden senior goal.

"It's what you dream of. I couldn't ask for a better day, a better performance from everyone," Brown told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"When I found out I was starting, I was obviously buzzing and the only thing that could top it was to get a goal and that happened so an incredible feeling."

It's a moment that lingers in the imaginations of many young footballers breaking through and Brown is no exception. Though, his reaction to his first goal didn't quite go to plan.

"I think since the start of the season when I've been up with the first team, I've thought about how a goal would be incredible," Brown added.

"You kind of picture it before, what you are going to do, but when it actually happens you don't actually know what to do.

"I just saw absolute mayhem in the away end so I just thought I'll celebrate with them because it's what they deserve."

Listen to the full post-match interview with Brown and more Sheffield Wednesday content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has said he is "very proud" of his side after they won 2-0 at Portsmouth.

In their first league win of the season, club captain Barry Bannan scored the visitors' first on 12 minutes with a fantastic 20-yard free-kick with 19-year-old striker George Brown netting the Owls other goal early in the second half.

"I'm very happy, very proud," said the Dane to BBC Radio Sheffield. "I think it was a very intensive performance today and an intensive game.

"We had some experience in the last games where we were quickly one or two nil down, [so we needed] to give ourselves a good beginning, then we should stay in the game.

"One of the key things to win the game is how many times we could play a team-mate in [at] speed behind the opponent's defending line so a big performance to have the discipline to keep up the game plan [for] 90 minutes.

"I'm so proud of the boys."

Portsmouth will seek to make it four games unbeaten when winless Sheffield Wednesday head to Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Pompey are seeking a fourth clean sheet in six Championship games, having won 1-0 against Preston in their last home game and drawn the south coast derby 0-0 at Southampton last Sunday.

Wednesday have lost three straight home games without scoring, culminating in the EFL Cup exit at the hands of League Two Grimsby in midweek, but did pick up their only point from their opening five league games in their most recent away game at Wrexham.

• Portsmouth remain winless in each of their last seven league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D3 L4), losing this fixture 1-2 last season.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their last five away trips to Portsmouth in the league (W3 D2), winning the last two – the Owls have never won three in a row at Fratton Park.

• No team has kept more clean sheets in the Championship this season than Portsmouth (3). Pompey are looking for three consecutive clean sheets at this level for the first time since keeping six in a row in February and March 2011.

• Sheffield Wednesday have spent 64.4% of their Championship matches (inc. injury time) losing so far this season, the highest percentage of any club. The Owls are winless in all five games (D1 L4) although they haven't been relegated in any of their last four league seasons when failing to win any of their opening five matches (2005-06, 2007-08, 2013-14 and 2023-24).

• Although he hasn't registered an assist yet, only one player has created more chances in the Championship this season than Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan (12).

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Henrik Pedersen said his side need to "find a way to stay in the game longer", but has praised their improvements in training.

Wednesday are still on the hunt for their first win of the season and are currently avoiding the bottom of the table by a point, thanks to local rivals Sheffield United who have lost all five of their games this season.

Last Saturday's defeat to Bristol City was a case in point as the Owls were 3-0 down by the interval with no hope of getting back into the contest.

"Today we have had a really good training session which is a good start," Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"We have to find a way where we can stay in the game for a little bit longer, so we don't end the half after 45 minutes at 2-0 or 3-0.

"The first step is being very solid defensively, then maybe we need to play a little bit more simple on the ball so we can minimise the number of losses in our own half, but we need some courage and we need intensity and big discipline for our game plan.

"What I saw today in the training session was a really good with lots of discipline and intensity and good structure in the team - it would be a good beginning for a good game."

On Saturday, Wednesday play Portsmouth (15:00 BST) with John Mousinho's side occupying ninth following a positive start to the season, which has seen them lose just one game out out of their opening five fixtures.

However, Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid is out due to a broken hand, an injury he suffered in their derby game against Southampton.

The Owls boss added: "Portsmouth are one of the sides that run the most, sprint the most with their acceleration. So, we have to match this as number one.

"Two, Josh Murphy on the left side is a great player with a lot of crossing ability, which is a battle we have to win and the second ball game is another battle we have to win."

Listen to the full pre-match interview with Pedersen and more Sheffield Wednesday content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen insisted he was still "really proud" of his young side after they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby Town.

The Owls' only two wins this season have come in the competition - by virtue of penalty shootout triumphs against Bolton and Leeds - but their progress was halted by the Mariners, who shocked Manchester United in the previous round.

Pedersen, who made 10 changes to his team from the weekend, told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I'm proud of what they have done. We have played three cup games on a really, really good level.

"The boys have showed who they are and expressed themselves in the best possible way. It was a very even game in the beginning - we lost the first ball and the second ball but the boys worked their way into the game.

"George [Brown] up front was really, really strong for us. We saw Jarvis [Thornton], we saw Sean [Fusire] and Ernie [Weaver] and Cole [McGhee] - and we saw Yisa [Alao], 16 years old who came in after 35 minutes. Big respect.

"They have to develop quick because they will get playing time."