One Sheffield Wednesday moment has left an EFL pundit in shock in the game against Portsmouth.
The Owls came away from the south coast with a crucial three points against Portsmouth after an emphatic second half showing saw Danny Rohl’s side win 2-1.
Sheffield Wednesday’s away form has been very good in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, and the second stanza last time out certainly embodied that, with many players stepping up and putting in a phenomenal effort.
Owls captain Barry Bannan helped run the show in the centre-of-the-park, whilst Yan Valery’s second half substitution also helped change the tide of the game in Wednesday’s favour.
However, there was one moment in the game that certainly made the difference and that was unsurprisingly the impeccable finish outside the box from Michael Smith, and this moment has rightfully been given a glowing report by one EFL pundit.
Michael Smith goal labelled as ‘perfect’ as Sheffield Wednesday beat Portsmouth
Owls striker Smith had just scored one goal in all competitions in the 2024/25 season, and that fell on the season opener against Plymouth Argyle.
He was enduring a fairly sticky patch of form in front of goal, but there aren’t many more impressive ways to pull yourself out of the mire than the strike that set Wednesday into the lead at the weekend.
The goal stunned many, including Ryan Dilks on the Second Tier Podcast, where he said: “My jaw nearly fell off my skull when this goal went in. I could not believe my eyes, it’s one of the cleanest strikes you’ll ever see.
The technique is inch perfect and one of the replays is complete and utter filthy.
“It’s the one where it’s kind of like low down and you just get to see that the ball has gone about five yards wide and then curls into the top corner. It’s just simply unsavable.”
Michael Smith must use strike to build confidence at Sheffield Wednesday
There is no doubt that Smith, as well as every other striker at the club, was going through a difficult spell in regards to finding the back of the net, and it is certainly a relief for him on a personal level to bag such a crucial goal for Sheffield Wednesday.
It can’t be emphasised enough how much the Owls have been missing a dependable attacker so far in the 2024/25 Championship season, and that has without a doubt affected the results on the pitch, however it could be a case that Smith becomes the unlikely option to be Wednesday’s main man to lead the line.
The former Rotherham United man can without a doubt be a solid option at Championship level if he can build on this goal for his own confidence, and there is no doubt that Rohl is one of the best coaches to get the best out of him.