Sheffield Wednesday

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl said some players disappointed him in their 2-0 defeat at Stoke City.

The Owls have now failed to win any of their past six games and have dropped to15th.

"It's tough. We spoke a lot this week about what we want to change and how we want to play, that we have to do our basics right, and how we want to be hungry for the last games. I'm very disappointed from some individual performances today," boss Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I always help them and try to improve them but some players showed today they are not able to play at my level.

"It starts after three minutes with one situation and from that moment I knew it would be a tough first half. It's not what I want to see.

"It's hard. Two weeks to go but such a finish after 18 months where we were very successful together makes me sad.

"We cannot play at just 80%. This group needs 100% to get something otherwise we have not the quality in every position."

One more win will get Mark Robins' Stoke City to the psychologically important 50 points barrier, which should mean they are safe from relegation.

The Owls have not won in the five games since back-to-back victories at Plymouth and Norwich but Danny Rohl's side are safely tucked in mid-table and can start thinking a little bit about next season.

The Potters need to improve on their record against Wednesday if they are to move closer to ending talk of going down once and for all.

• Stoke have won just two of their past 13 league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D6 L5) and are winless in three against the Owls (D1 L2).

• Sheffield Wednesday are looking for their first league double over Stoke since the 1952-53 top-flight campaign, having won 2-0 earlier this season.

• Stoke have won two of their past four league games on Good Friday (L2), one more than in their previous 23 such games (D7 L15).

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their past four league games on Good Friday (D3 L1), having won each of their previous four between 2002 and 2018.

• Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has prevented the most goals based on Opta's expected goals model in the Championship this season (15), while Sheffield Wednesday's Pierce Charles has the second-best goals prevented rate (1.47 – min. 360 minutes).

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Rex Features

The protest on Saturday, arranged by the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust, was the most participated in protest I can recall at Hillsborough.

As noted a few times recently, this isn't a fan base with much appetite for protest. You're unlikely to see anything like you're witnessing at Spurs currently or Manchester United.

However, this one apparently struck a chord.

Not everyone took part but a lot of people accepted the call to turn their backs on the pitch in the 10th minute against Oxford, selected to mark 10 years of Dejphon Chansiri's reign as Chairman. Calls for Chansiri to go were heard in the stadium during the minute-long stand.

The plan from the Trust clearly sent a message. Chansiri published a letter to supporters just before the game where he apologised for the recent situation of unpaid players and senior staff. He admitted he would happily leave the club if someone more suitable comes along.

Tellingly though, he also said he had no intention to leave. He also admitted his lack of interest in a NDA with any prospective buyer, which some argue is a roadblock to ever discovering if a stronger alternative is out there or any future sale.

The Supporters Trust read the letter and quickly published a response saying it was still time for Chansiri "to do the honourable thing and step aside once a buyer offering market valuation is found."

All attention now turns to a Tuesday meeting between Chansiri and a supporters engagement panel, which includes the Trust.

What will the chairman say? Will the wider fan base find out what is discussed? Will fans be provided with answers to the significant number of questions they tell us they want asked? Will there be further protests, with Sheffield Wednesday playing two games over the Easter weekend?

We recently requested an opportunity to interview the chairman but were told he isn't doing any audio interviews.

Clarity is required for fans who have been very patient during what has been at times a turbulent period.

They've been asked to pay high ticket prices compared to other clubs and they've been asked to pay for early bird season tickets at Christmas time. They've invested their money and faith into the club and deserve to know what's going on.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl said that he was "disappointed" with his side's display in their 1-0 defeat by Oxford United on Saturday.

The Owls dropped one place to 14th in the Championship table after the defeat, 11 points clear of the relegation zone and nine off the top six with four games remaining.

Rohl's side have now lost five consecutive home league matches.

"I think we wanted to win this game and we tried, but in the end we couldn't come to 100% to do it," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"In the final 20 minutes of the game they really tried and managed to do it, we had our moments but all in all we lost.

"I'm disappointed about us, I don't like that we conceded from set-pieces again, at the moment it is tough to take and a tough time.

"At this stage of the season it is all about results and our results in the second half of the season, especially at home, you can copy and paste results and it is hard."

The Owls are next in action on Friday when they travel to face Stoke City.

Sheffield Wednesday are looking to end a four-game losing run at home to keep alive their slim Championship play-off hopes.

Oxford United are just three points clear of the relegation zone as they search for a second away win of the season.

• After their 3-1 win in December, Sheffield Wednesday could complete only their second league double over Oxford United, after 1985-86.

• Oxford United are unbeaten in their past four away league games at Sheffield Wednesday (W2 D2) since a 6-1 defeat in October 1986.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their past four home league games in succession, last enduring a longer losing run at Hillsborough in December 2009 (5).

• Oxford have won just one of their 20 away league games this season (D7 L12), scoring more than one goal in just two of those matches.

• Djeidi Gassama has scored seven league goals this season, the most by a player while aged 21 or younger in a campaign for Sheffield Wednesday since Connor Wickham in 2013-14 (8).

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield after his side's 2-2 draw away to Blackburn Rovers.

"Of course it is disappointing when you saw the first half because except from the first chance they had I think we controlled the game with some really good football," he said.

"But two-nil is always dangerous with one moment from the home team. When you take all of this game maybe this was the mirror of all season. Maybe we have this and [then] this. But I must say the attitude was there and the mentality.

"We have made a very solid season. When was the last season with this club that you can say there has been no trouble and we have spent most of the season looking up? These are all positives things that we should take.

"As a group we have good performances but individually everyone could step up. But again we have achieved 53 points and that was achieved on the final match day last season. This season we have still five more games to go so let's try to have a good end of the season."

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Sheffield Wednesday players might have been finally paid today but the further reputational damage to the club will linger.

This latest episode, along with controversial fans forums, late HMRC payments and other issues have definitely not gone unnoticed in football.

With Southampton parting with Ivan Juric today, it feels like a matter of when not if they make a move for Owls boss Danny Rohl. They won't be the only interested party. It seems inevitable the club will lose its biggest asset.

How many of the out of contract players will also be minded to move on after this?

Chairman Dejphon Chansiri bears complete responsibility and there are larger than ever calls for him to find a buyer and sell the club.

However, a growing passion for change among Wednesday fans online didn't translate to anger in the stands on Saturday. The reaction was meek, a couple of strangled chants calling for Chansiri to go. It feels clearer than ever that there simply isn't an appetite for protest at Hillsborough.

This isn't a modern thing.

Owls fans, by and large, are not protesters. There was more anger shown by Rotherham fans the week prior at now former boss Steve Evans than we saw at Chansiri at the weekend.

The 1867 Group, which has organised protests over the last 18 months, phoned our show to tell us they were often abused, spat at and one volunteer had a punch aimed in his direction. They say they had no choice but to give up.

We requested an interview with Chansiri but were told by the club he isn't doing any audio interviews.

These are some of the questions that fans want answers to:

The club sold early bird season tickets at Christmas, recently hosted a big crowd for the Steel City Derby and gave hospitality box holders a seven-day deadline to renew and pay to get a cheaper rate. How did the club not have sufficient funds to pay players and staff on time in March?

That has to be explained in more detail. The fans deserve answers because they're the ones being asked to pay for not only early season tickets, but also some of the highest ticket prices around.

If the club is now reliant on money coming into the chairman's other businesses to pay monthly salaries, what are these other businesses exactly? Do fans have a right to know if the sustainability of the club is reliant on them?

How long is it until the next cashflow issue? Is it a matter of time until the next problem? And if so, doesn't the chairman have a duty to look for alternative investors and/or new owners?

Who advises the chairman? We're constantly asked about Amadeu Paixao. What is his role, specifically, and how was he introduced to the chairman?

There are of course many more questions to be asked. This is a historic football club that is not being run properly.

Both Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday have left themselves with plenty of work to do to get to a play-off spot.

Rovers have yet to win under new boss Valerien Ismael and have lost their past five league games to see themselves eight points adrift of the top six, a spot they once held under former boss John Eustace.

Though Wednesday are in a similar predicament.

A difficult week ended with a third successive winless game on the weekend, putting them level on points with the Lancashire side but a place below on goal difference.

Both sides will have the opportunity to get closer to a chance at promotion when they meet on Tuesday (19:45 BST) - and maybe knock the other out of contention.

• After their 1-0 win in the reverse fixture, Blackburn are looking to complete their seventh ever league double over Sheffield Wednesday, and just their third post-war, after 1994-95 and 2019-20.

• Sheffield Wednesday won this exact fixture last season 3-1 but haven't won back-to-back league trips to Blackburn since October 1982.

• Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael has only lost one of his four previous managerial games against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship (W2 D1), going gown 1-2 with Barnsley in March 2021.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won nine away league games this season, last winning more in a single Championship campaign on the road in 2006-07 (10).

• Josh Windass has been directly involved in four goals in his last four league appearances against Blackburn for Sheffield Wednesday, scoring three and assisting one more.

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Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl said his side showed enough desire to beat Hull City, despite their 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

Charlie Hughes scored a 94th-minute winner to ease the Tigers' Championship relegation fears.

But Rohl credited his players' effort in the game after they were not paid last week amid growing uncertainty at board level.

"Big credit to my team, to take this tough week, to stay here and go again, to fight again for our club," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It took time to come into it, but in the second half it was one direction.

"It's hard, but the key message for me is that this team has big, big character and big, big belief. A lot of players take all the setbacks again and again and it makes me very proud."

Rohl said he never doubted his players' motivation, but also admitted the club is not ready for the play-offs this season, as they sit eight points adrift of sixth place.

"The motivation comes from the inner circle, there's no question mark. The emotional level was there - they want to fight, they want to go and do everything, but you can understand what it means for this group," he added.

"It makes no sense to speak about the play-offs. We should be honest, and we're not ready for the play-offs.

"We did an outstanding job and felt we were always close, but in the second half of the season in all these tight games, we could have won maybe six home games, but we didn't."

Hull City visit Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 BST) as the look to avoid dropping into the bottom three.

The Tigers are only one point above the relegation line and were the only side in the bottom five not to have picked up points last time out after suffering a defeat to Luton.

But with financial problems plaguing the hosts this week, it would be doubly damaging if the Owls were to see their struggling Yorkshire rivals put a further dent into their dwindling dreams of promotion.

• Sheffield Wednesday are looking to complete their first league double over Hull City since beating them twice in 1990-91 under Ron Atkinson.

• Hull lost 3-1 at Hillsborough last season but haven't suffered consecutive league defeats away at Sheffield Wednesday since August 1972.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their last three home league matches, losing each game by a one-goal margin. The Owls haven't lost four in a row at home since December 2012.

• Hull won 3-0 away at Sheffield United earlier this campaign but have never previously won away at both Sheffield clubs in a league season. The last side to beat both by three or more goals away from home in one season was Huddersfield Town in 1953-54 (6-3 at United, 4-1 at Wednesday).

• Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan has four assists in his last 10 Championship appearances and since 2015-16, only Jed Wallace (56) and John Swift (48) have more assists in the competition than the Scotsman (44).

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Rex Features

A growing number of fans are angry and demanding answers after it emerged that, not for the first time during Dejphon Chansiri's reign as Sheffield Wednesday owner, the players have not been paid on time.

Many are asking why the club sells season tickets in an early-bird window before Christmas, yet in March, there isn't enough money to even pay wages?

A statement claims it's down to "significant sums of money" being owed to Chansiri's other businesses, "impacting immediate cashflow".

However, you get the sense patience for a lot of people has run out.

The Owls were placed under a second registration embargo in 12 months by the EFL last November over amounts owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Now this.

How financially sustainable is this club? What exactly is the future of Sheffield Wednesday? These are questions that need to be answered with more than just a statement. Fans are worried and some will feel embarrassed. They deserve answers.

This latest admittance will lead to growing calls for Chansiri to sell the club.

The Owls might be five points off the play-offs but they lack the solid base that typically accompanies teams challenging for the top flight. Fans dream of a Premier League return after 25 years but it's not realistic in this environment. The club is a long way off in terms of infrastructure and finances.

It's the latest reason why a talented young manager in Danny Rohl, the club's greatest asset, may leave amid reported interest from elsewhere.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles made his Championship debut for the Owls during their 1-1 draw to Cardiff City at the weekend.

He replaced usual number one choice James Beadle, who was left on the bench for the trip across the border.

"It was quite nerve-racking stepping on to the pitch but also full of excitement," Charles told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It was a long time coming for me. I just needed to patiently wait and got my opportunity."

The change came as a surprise for many but boss Danny Rohl dismissed the idea Beadle had lost his spot in goal - though he did affirm Wednesday fans can expect to see more of Charles in his place.

"In every position, we have competition. It's normal," Rohl said.

"There is not one number one, we have two number ones now and they fight every week.

"They challenge each other and I think for us, it's also good to see how ready Pierce is. On the other side, James is also doing well.

"Both get the same chances."

Listen to the full post-match interviews and more on the Owls Heaven podcast

Cardiff City host Sheffield Wednesday as they look to keep clear of the relegation zone on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are only one point above 22nd placed Derby County, with the Rams on the charge with three successive wins.

Cardiff put an end to a three match losing streak last time out with a 2-1 victory over play off contenders Blackburn Rovers but will need to make it two in a row to secure safety.

• Cardiff City have won just one of their last six home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D4 L1), though that sole victory did come in this exact fixture last season with a 2-1 success.

• Since the start of 2008, Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their 18 away league games against sides from Wales (D7 L9), though the Owls did win on their last visit in a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in February.

• Cardiff have lost six of their last eight league games against sides from Yorkshire (W1 D1), conceding 24 goals in total during those matches.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their last two away league games whilst scoring 3+ goals in the process; the Owls' last won more in succession while netting 3+ times in each back in December 2004 in the third tier.

• Sheffield Wednesday have scored 53 goals across their 38 league games this season, last scoring more at this stage of a campaign in the second tier in 2015-16 (56).