Stats tell a sorry story

Last updated : 14 February 2008 By C. Morris

A breakdown of statistics for Championship clubs makes sorry reading for Owls fans and serves to highlight key points as to why the club have had a disappointing season thus far.

To date the football leagues' official statistics show that Wednesday have managed a total of just 148 shots on target, only Colchester (127) have had less than this to date.

Only Scunthorpe and Colchester have picked up less points than the Owls 19 in home matches to date and although Wednesday have only conceded 17 goals at home which compares well with most clubs in the league, no side has scored less times at home and the 8 home defeats that the Owls have suffered is the most in the division.

Away the story is similar with only three clubs, Barnsley, Preston and Ipswich- who only recorded their first away win a couple of weeks ago at Hillsborough picking up less points on their travels.

Although Wednesday have managed a decent return of 8 clean sheets in the league, fellow strugglers Preston and Leicester can better this and Scunthorpe have also had 8 shut-outs.

The lack of efforts on target highlights the problems that Wednesday have in the goal scoring department, especially from the midfield and defence.

Other than the strikers, with Glenn Whelan gone Wednesday have only three players that have found the net on more than one occasion in the league this season- Burton O'Brien (3), Wade Small (2) and Richard Hinds(2).

If Wednesday are to get out of trouble then this is something they need to improve on, particularly with the injury problems the club has had up-front.

There were encouraging signs that can be taken from the Charlton game as visiting keeper Nicky weaver made a string of fine saves throughout the game and the Owls looked more of a creative threat with two out-and-out wingers in Small and Johnson.