Owls duo suffer disappointing international week

Last updated : 12 October 2016 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday pair Barry Bannan and Steven Fletcher were on international duty for Scotland this week but failed to get the points that they would have been hoping for in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Bannan played the full 90 minutes as Scotland toiled to a 1-1 home draw with Lithuania at Hampden Park. The Owls midfielder was heavily involved in the game but playing with one striker for a large proportion of the game the hosts struggled to break down a resolute defence. Fletcher was an unused substitute.

Gordon Strachan's side then travelled to face Slovakia on Tuesday. Both Fletcher and Bannan started the game and Fletcher was involved in early controversy having appeared to have been clearly fouled after doing well to win possession for the visitors the referee waved play-on and Slovakia broke clear to open the scoring.

Once again Scotland went with a single striker formation, which meant that Fletcher was isolated for much of the game and Scotland fell to a 3-0 defeat.

If Bannan and Fletcher are selected in the next Scotland squad their next match will see them face England at Wembley in November.

The pair will return to action for the Owls this weekend when Wednesday travel to face top-of-the-table Huddersfield Town on Sunday.