If Sheffield Wednesday want to make progress this season, they are going to have to get results against teams like Cardiff City, and one of Danny Rohl’s players knows all about doing just that.
We are now one-third of the way through the season, and Sheffield Wednesday are sitting in 15th place in the Championship table, with 18 points.
Their next opponents are currently in the relegation zone, but are just three points behind Danny Rohl’s side and could easily climb out of trouble with a win at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
Scoring goals has arguably been Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest issue this season, though, and Rohl now faces a big decision ahead of the Cardiff clash as to who will lead his attacking line.
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Jamal Lowe has caused Cardiff City problems in the past
One of Sheffield Wednesday’s summer signings could hold the key to success this weekend, as Jamal Lowe has plenty of experience of getting the better of Cardiff.
The 30-year-old has faced the Bluebirds eight times in his career, registering five wins, one draw, and just two defeats while playing for Wigan Athletic, Swansea City, and Bournemouth.
Lowe scored two goals in Swansea’s 2-0 win over their rivals back in the 2020/21 campaign, and bagged another goal against Cardiff for the Swans in another 2-0 win last season, too.
Those kinds of experiences can certainly stick around in a player’s head, and Lowe would likely go into the game brimming with confidence that he can hurt Cardiff again. The same can be said for any Cardiff players who remember his exploits, and that kind of advantage could be key for the Owls.
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Sheffield Wednesday need to get the best out of Jamal Lowe
The question is, though, will Danny Rohl actually use Jamal Lowe? So far this season, the striker has failed to make much of an impact at his new club, and has not scored since August.
It’s a common problem in the Wednesday roster, with Ike Ugbo’s well-documented struggles adding to Rohl’s selection headache.
| 2024/25 statistics | Jamal Lowe | Michael Smith | Ike Ugbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 14 | 17 | 17 |
| Minutes played | 663 | 635 | 787 |
| Goals | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Shots on target % | 23.5 | 44.4 | 36.4 |
| Shot-creating actions per 90 | 2.05 | 3.25 | 1.53 |
The most likely solution is for Michael Smith to start the game against Cardiff, with the target man actually being one of Sheffield Wednesday’s top performers this season based on statistics.
While Lowe may not start the game on Saturday, given his history against Cardiff, it would be a shame if Rohl doesn’t at least give the forward some time on the pitch to see if he can keep up his pattern of success against the Welsh outfit.