Sheffield Wednesday fire blanks vs Wigan Athletic - but are still top of the table

Sheffield Wednesday remain top of League One, but their 0-0 draw with Wigan Athletic was nothing to write home about.

Wednesday go closer. Image: Alex Young

In terms of the starting XI, Mason Burstow was reinstated up front, while Ricardo Santos was paired with Liam Cooper in defence. Jaden Heskey dropped out of the squad completely as Harry Gray made the bench - the young midfielder the first victim of the fact that Wednesday have one more loanee than they’re allowed to name in their matchday squad.

Optimism surrounds Wednesday once again, and there was plenty of blue and white on show as a new flag was unfurled on a busy Kop before kick-off. Wigan had had a rough start to their 2026/27 campaign, and the hosts were hoping to add to their woes.

The first half was a lively one. Both teams had good spells as it ebbed and flowed at S6, and in the opening 15 minutes we’d seen Billy Mitchell clip the ball over the top and hit the ref in the head, Burstow crash one against the woodwork, Cooper ping a delightful diagonal ball and the visitors have a pretty decent penalty shout waved away.

Cooper was in fantastic form, getting in the way of everything that came his way. He blocked shots, cleared crosses and looked generally very tidy alongside his experienced colleague, Santos.

Another player who stood out was young Kieran Morrison, who was a constant handful down Wednesday’s right-hand side. With his stepovers and dropped shoulders he managed to get a few strikes on goal, and also put some wicked balls into the box… Unfortunately nobody was able to get on the end of them.

Big chances were few and far between, but there were saves from the Joes in goal – Lumley and Whitworth – as the two teams fought for an opener. It wasn’t to come in the opening stanza, and we were still goalless after 45 minutes.

Billy Mitchell on the ball. Image: Alex Young

While Wednesday probably edged the first half, it was the visiting side who looked brightest in the early stages of the second. Jensen Weir hit the post, Cooper was booked, and the Owls spent an extended period down to 10 men as Callum Slattery waited for a change of boots and then Yan Valery went down injured.

Ultimately the full-back couldn’t continue, despite trying to come back on, and was one of three changes by Henrik Pedersen with just over an hour played. Palmer replaced him, while Ali Al-Hamadi came on for Mason Burstow and Slattery went off for Davis Keillor-Dunn.

Wednesday couldn’t really get a hold on the game, and it was the Latics who looked the most likely to score. Pedersen’s men could barely get out of their own half, and the Owls boss looked to be forced into another change - this time it was Santos off for Gabriel Otegbayo.

Gray was the next one to enter the mix, taking over from Lowe, but it didn’t really look to help matters. The talented teenager showed a few nice touches, but we entered into the final five minutes of normal time with the home side still battling to create anything meaningful.

The attacker was booked as the 90-minute mark approached, going into Seb Stockbridge’s book for dissent after reacting to what did look to be a very soft foul given against him. Eight minutes were added on.

To their credit, the Owls did make a late push in search of a winner, slowly trying to turn the screw as 30,725 people watched on. It wasn’t to be, though, and Wigan were able to deal with anything that came their way. The best Wednesday chance fell to Gray after a lovely Palmer cross found him in the box, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

In the end a draw was probably a fair result, and a last-ditch block from Otegbayo at the death made sure that that’s how it finished. Not an afternoon to remember for Wednesdayites, but they could at least head home knowing that their team is still top of the table. A first clean sheet will be welcomed, too.

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