Award curse strikes Owls

Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine was acknowledged as the Coca-Cola Championship manager of the month for January on Saturday and the manager of the month curse struck straight away as the Owls were beaten later that day by Nottingham Forest.

Irvine won the award for a fine first month in charge of the Hillsborough club, recording 4 league victories in 5 matches for a team that had previously gone 11 games without a win.

Back to back away wins against Barnsley and Blackpool were followed up by a home win over Peterborough and the Owls then bounced back from defeat at Scunthorpe to take three more points against Plymouth at Hillsborough.

Irvine’s reign begin with Wednesday rooted in the relegation places but their run of form during January has dragged them out of that. Defeat at Forest was a set back and with other teams in and around the relegation zone also picking up points recently it is vital that the Owls bounce back in upcoming home fixtures against Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers.