Heck's forward thinking - exclusive

The former Bradford fullback’s equaliser deep into stoppage time sealed a draw for The Owls but after their torrid first-half performance, many thought that Bournemouth would run up a cricket score.

But Wednesday rallied and had many opportunities to win the game themselves in the second half but had to wait for new daddy Heckingbottom to spare their blushes.

He told Footymad: “Yeah I enjoyed scoring the goal. I keep pestering the coaching staff to get me up for set pieces but they always want me to stay back but that’s my third goal this season so hopefully they will keep sending me up there.

“I am not playing now against Port Vale as I got booked for that celebration so I am missing the game and I am a bit gutted about that, I’ve asked the ref to look at it but there is nothing he can do as I was previously on four cautions.

“We were the better team I think in the second half and we pressed well. We were getting outfought and outplayed in the first half so it was good to come away with the point in the end.

“Give Bournemouth credit though they play differently to other teams as they try to pass it more and they are good at it but they can also go direct with the big lad Fletcher up front and he did cause us problems and we couldn’t adapt to it and impose ourselves on the game. They were well on top and it took a telling off by the gaffer at half time so we came out more positive and tried to make things happen.”

Sturrock gave the players the hairdryer treatment at the interval and it seemed to work wonders, and Heckingbottom has been impressed with the impact the Scotsman has made since his arrival.

He added: “The gaffer is good at pointing out what we have done wrong. It is easy to say what you have done right but he points out what we can do better as everyone can see where we are going wrong and where we are making mistakes so Paul will put his finger on what we need to do better all over the pitch.”

Bournemouth is not the easiest place to get to but the players were mightily thankful of the travelling support and Heck believes the Wednesdayites’ presence lifts the players.

He added: “Lee Bullen and myself were warming up before the game and we could hear the fans singing and I said ‘that’s great support’ and it is appreciated by the lads whether we are at home or away when we hear the supporters making noise and it does lift us.”