Sheffield Wednesday have been showered in praise since the full-time whistle was blown yesterday.
The Owls headed into their opening day fixture against Plymouth Argyle with high hopes and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
Sheffield Wednesday dominated from kick-off, and while they struggled for chances in the opening 30 minutes, Jamal Lowe’s goal quickly opened the floodgates.
An own goal, Josh Windass and Michael Smith went onto earn the Yorkshire outfit a comfortable 4-0 win and put them top of the Championship table after one game.
Plymouth are tipped for relegation this season, so it will only get harder from here, but Wednesday still deserve their praise and have been hailed for an ‘almost perfection’ display.
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Danny Rohl ‘couldn’t have asked for anything more’
Speaking to BBC Sport at full-time, Lee Bullen said: “First game of the season and it’s almost perfection; four goals and dominant football. Couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“As close to perfection as you could get. The staff can be very proud of this performance, the players can be proud individually. There’s not one negative to take from this game.
“Ultimately, the foundations of any game is your defence and Wednesday got that right today. The fact that you’re seeing positive out of it, with the sun taking it out of the legs, it will get better and better and better. It’s one heck of a start.”
Wednesday fans won’t be used to such a dominating performance after a difficult 2023/24 campaign, but 30 shots and 63% possession says it all.
Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth were utterly woeful, but you can’t take any credit away from the hosts.
Sheffield Wednesday’s debutants were outstanding
What makes the performance even more promising is that four players were making their debut for the club, yet they looked like they had all played together as a team for years.
Yan Valery was named man of the match, Svante Ingelsson was ‘tremendous’ and Lowe marked his debut with a goal.
Things are surely only going to get better for the Owls, and it is easy to forget they didn’t even have first choice striker Ike Ugbo available.
If the Canadian had played, they could well have scored six or seven goals at Hillsborough.
Hopefully they can replicate their display against Sunderland, but it is certainly the best possible start they could have asked for.