SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: It’s two of a kind in battle of the Championship strugglers
Wednesday woes: Chris Lines reflects after the 4-1 home defeat by Watford
WEDNESDAY could be said to be looking at a mirror image of themselves when they face Bristol City at Hillsborough tomorrow.
The two clubs have:
The same number of points.
Lost 4-1 in their last home game.
Been booed by fans at home after a poor performance and seen many leave before the end.
Fielded a 4-5-1 formation.
Been outfought and outfought in a recent game, in the opinion of their manager.
Suffered disruption cause by injuries.
Bristol’s 4-1 jolt came last Saturday against Wolves four days after Wednesday crashed against Watford at Hillsborough.
Like Wednesday, City are used to the losing feeling: they suffered seven defeats in a row up to November 11.
That was followed by a home draw with Blackpool and a shock 3-1 win at Middlesbrough, where Wednesday had gone down by the same score a fortnight earlier. but any hopes that City had of a revival were dashed by a 2-0 setback at Brighton and what seems to have been a debacle against Wolves, with the home fans showing their displeasure, and under-fire manager Derek McInnes saying his team were “outmuscled and outthought”.
That was the same sort of tag placed by Dave Jones on his side’s second-half display in the 2-0 Hillsborough defeat against Leicester.
Wednesday fans voted with their voices and their feet on the night that their team collapsed in the second half against Watford.
So, the Owls will attempt to find favour this time by showing the same spirit and effort that they produced at Cardiff, plus this time a much-needed win.
If Wednesday feel that it is a good opportunity to pick up points against a struggling side, well, the feeling is mutual. Bristol City also play Ipswich and Peterborough this month.
Captain Liam Fontaine says: “December looks like a good month for us to put some points on the board and we need to look forward rather than dwelling on what has already gone.
“We need to lift ourselves quickly and react in the right way.
“This is a massive week for all of us and we have to put what happened behind us and get on with the next game. We have to be fast out of the blocks and we have to match them in the individual battles. We have to go out there and put things right.
“We need to build some kind of team mentality and really pull together. That is the only way we are going to get out of this. If you throw your toys out of the pram and sulk, you are just going to be like that every week.”
Like Wednesday, City have had to change their back four continually because of injuries. Fontaine added: “It is difficult when the defence is chopping and changing every week.”
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Weather for Selby
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
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Temperature: 5 C to 19 C
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Sunny spells
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