Sheffield Wednesday can, at times, be impressive in attack. But more so, they’re terrible at defending.
Under Danny Rohl, Sheffield Wednesday have really shone, especially so with some of their attacking performances last season.
And in their first game of this season, 4-0 win vs Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday looked like they were finally coming together under Rohl, following a promising summer of transfer business.
That fine start quickly unravelled. A 3-0 defeat vs Millwall last time out marked a third-straight league defeat for the Owls, who currently sit in 20th place of the Championship table; exactly where they finished last time round.
And whilst the Owls have barely laid a finger on their last few opponents, it’s their defensive game that’s really worried the fans.
Sheffield Wednesday have conceded nine goals in their last three Championship games and already boast the second-worst defensive record in the league.
But one defensive statistic certainly makes for interesting reading.
- READ MORE: Dejphon Chansiri has made a clear point at Sheffield Wednesday, but a tough decision may come soon
Sheffield Wednesday lead the Championship for tackles-per-game
As things stand, Sheffield Wednesday are top of the Championship for tackles-per-game, averaging an astonishing 21.8 every game.
The Owls are also fourth for interceptions-per-game, and when those two stats are put next to what’s been three woefully bad defensive displays, it certainly becomes confusing.
Sheffield Wednesday are putting in the interventions, yet still conceding goals, and when watching the Owls, very few would have any compliments to pay their defensive game.
But the above stat does offer a possible explanation for this run of results, and highlights a worrying trend for the club.
- READ MORE: Sheffield Wednesday next five fixtures are crucial for Danny Rohl, two of them are winnable
Sheffield Wednesday paying for individual errors
It’s a growing topic of conversation among Sheffield Wednesday fans on social media; the first-team are paying for individual errors in defence.
With Rohl enforcing this passing-from-the-back style, it’s forcing players into errors, often James Beadle who is also failing to cover himself in glory in the manner of some goals conceded this season.
Then there’s the likes of Di’Shon Bernard and in particular Dominic Iorfa, whose passing just hasn’t been up to scratch this season, but who haven’t been helped by the lack of a defensive midfielder up until the Owls signed Shea Charles on loan.
Perhaps more alarming though is that Sheffield Wednesday are clearly lacking confidence right now.
We saw at times last season, the Owls concede a goal and go on and concede a few more, as they have done this season.
Confidence will come with more experience. For Rohl, it’s now about shoring up and ending this losing streak, building on it, and going from there.
Their tackling and interception stats show that they can do what’s required. But it’s individual errors they need to eradicate.