Sheffield Wednesday’s pre-season preparations suffered a setback on Tuesday evening at the hands of local rivals Barnsley. The Championship side were on top for large periods of the game and a goal in each half was enough to see them to a comfortable victory.
While the defeat is a disappointment it is difficult to read too much into the game given that Wednesday started the game with no more than 4 players who are likely to be in the first 11 when they take on Rochdale at Hillsborough in the first game of the 2011/12 season.
The likes of Clinton Morrison, Lewis Buxton, Julian Bennett and David Prutton were all absent from the Owls squad while Rob Jones and Chris Sedgwick only made brief substitute appearances. As things stand all of these players along with new signing Danny Batth will be expected to be the starting line-up on August 6th fitness permitting.
What this match does highlight is the fact the Gary Megson doesn’t have a big squad at his disposal and he will be hoping to add to this in the lead up to the big kick off. Trialist Padraig Amond again started in attack alongside Gary Madine and as has been much discussed, Wednesday are certainly thin on the ground in an attacking sense.
Barnsley opened the scoring through David Perkins inside the first ten minutes and they wrapped up the result ten minutes from time when Jim O’Brien fired home from inside the penalty area.
The Owls’ preparations continue when they send a representative side to Hallam FC on Wednesday evening before they face Premier League Stoke City at Hillsborough on Saturday.