Amid the celebrations after the win over Hull City on Tuesday night, one thing became very clear for Sheffield Wednesday.
It was a big night for Sheffield Wednesday, who travelled up North and secured an important three points at the MKM Stadium.
That 2-0 win was the perfect remedy for a couple of bothersome results for Danny Rohl’s side, who had previously dropped points against struggling Cardiff City and lost in the Steel City derby before the international break.
Rohl has been tinkering with his forward line of late, but the performance of Michael Smith against Hull proved that rotation needs to stop now.
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Michael Smith has to be the focal point for Sheffield Wednesday
The headlines will all be about Smith’s crucial goal to double Wednesday’s lead and essentially kill the game in the second half.
However, looking deeper into the target man’s performance, there are clear signs that he’s actually exactly what Rohl needs to make his style of play successful.
Of particular note is the fact Smith won all six of his aerial duels over the 45 minutes he played. That kind of physicality and presence is something the Owls sorely miss whenever he is not on the pitch, and the success it brings was clear to see on Tuesday.
| Statistic | Michael Smith vs Hull City |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 45 |
| Goals | 1 |
| xG | 0.5 |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Aerial duels won | 6 |
Not only does it allow Smith to carve out opportunities for himself, but he becomes, as The Star described it, the “focal point” of the Sheffield Wednesday system, allowing other players around him to come into the game and create dangerous situations with their flair and dynamism.
Smith was hailed for a “big effort” in that second half, and that’s what you get from the 33-year-old; he will run himself into the ground for the team, and is a very selfless player.
Smith might not be the most glamorous striker, but he’s got the right work ethic. That, twinned with his imposing frame, offer Rohl something very different compared to Ike Ugbo’s more ground-based play, and it wouldn’t hurt Wednesday to be more direct.
Sheffield Wednesday should give Michael Smith a new contract
It is worth noting that his goal against Hull was Smith’s fourth of the season, and he’s scored them in just 563 minutes of league football (on average, a goal roughly every 1.5 games).
Not exactly groundbreaking numbers, but by Sheffield Wednesday’s current standards, they can ill-afford to turn their nose up at a forward who is fairly consistently finding the back of the net when he’s called upon.
Smith is one of a handful of Sheffield Wednesday players whose contracts expire at the end of the season. Given his age, it would not be surprising if Smith departed S6 on a free next year, but that would be a mistake.
Smith himself has said ‘conversations’ have taken place regarding a new deal, and after his display against Hull, one would think those discussions could be tabled once more very soon.