Bright debuts and a sumptuous finish - Hillsborough smiles again as Sheffield Wednesday see off Bolton Wanderers
How nice, for a change, to see Sheffield Wednesday grow into a game of football?
Henrik Pedersen’s men came out on top at a refurbished Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon, seeing off Championship outfit, Bolton Wanderers, with a 1-0 victory.
In many ways, the first half was exactly as you’d expect from a first round Carabao Cup tie ahead of a new league campaign…
The Championship side had the better of it, the League One side had a moment or two, but ultimately it felt like the final preseason game before the real thing gets underway. Given the sheer amount of debutants from an Owls perspective, Pedersen won’t have been too upset by what he saw.
There were still some cobwebs to shake off, and you could see by some of the loose passes and loose touches that it was another step up towards properly competitive action… And that went for both teams.
Ruben Rodrigues had a couple of chances for the visitors, and Callum Slattery fired wide of the mark. Steven Schumacher’s men had some joy down Wednesday’s right-hand side, and Harry Gray started to have the same at the other end as the tie went on.
Both Slattery and Gray looked bright, showcasing some neat footwork at various different points, while Jordi Liongola has the makings of an intriguing footballer. The Burundi international didn’t have the perfect debut, but showed enough sparks of quality in the opening stanza to offer optimism for what’s to come from him.
Defensively the Owls looked shaky at times, but that shouldn’t come as a shock considering the summer of change that’s unfolded, but Joe Lumley looked solid and did everything he needed to do between the sticks.
The half-time whistle came and went, and Pedersen left things as they were after the break. It felt like the right decision, too, with the Owls coming out of the blocks brightly as they attacked the Kop end.
It didn’t take long for another flash point, either. With just under an hour played, Gray yanked at Xavier Simons’ shirt for one of the clearest fouls and bookings you’ll ever see… Simons’ reaction, though, was inexplicable.
With his right arm the midfielder swung a punch into the gut of the 17-year-old, prompting an immediate coming together of both sets of players – and there were no complaints from him as he trudged off the field having been given his marching orders. A ludicrous decision from the former Chelsea man, and the Owls had a numerical advantage.
And it didn’t take Pedersen long to react. After letting the game settle, he looked to his bench for changes. Jamal Lowe and Louie Barry came on, replacing Mason Burstow and Jarvis Thornton – more attackers on the pitch.
Lowe’s impact was almost immediate, too. Seven minutes after coming on he found himself through on goal after a sumptuous ball from Barry Bannan found him behind enemy lines, and he did brilliantly to loop the ball over Jack Bonham. It wasn’t an easy finish, but bloody hell did he take it well.
The Owls were in the ascendancy, building momentum from the sending-off, and with a stronger pool of players to delve into, Pedersen finally has the ability to affect things positively. Will Grainger and Sean Fusire came on, Harry Gray and Barry Bannan made way, with the hosts chasing a second.
Sil Swinkels went close, forcing Bonham into a save at his near post, and Bolton’s early promise had almost entirely disappeared. Barry looked a threat, and Wednesday looked organised. Liam Palmer took to the field late on as Yan Valery - whose future remains in doubt - limped off.
So much of last season felt rinse and repeat. Play ok, hold your own, run out of steam, and eventually lose… A tough season lies ahead, but it was nice to see that pattern change. Today the Owls grew into the game, got better as it went on, utilised a bolstered bench and finished the job. 1-0 and into the second round.
A home victory… Feels good doesn’t it?
Thanks for being part of The Wednesday Word family. Your fiver a month helps fund the entire project - whether it’s the articles, the YouTube or the social media platforms. Your support is hugely appreciated!
I thought it was scrappy at time in the first half, but we really grew into the game. I think there were a few nerves from some of our debutants, but when the dust settled we looked lively. Liongola was the clearest example for me, with poor first touches and a questionable decision or two, but as the game grew he grew with it.