David Jones and Sheffield Wednesday seek a kickstart on the banks of the Thames

FEW grounds in the Football League are as pleasant to visit as Craven Cottage.
Intervention: David Jones applauds the Owls fans on Wednesday night after his goal salvaged a point against Sunderland. (Picture: Steve Ellis)Intervention: David Jones applauds the Owls fans on Wednesday night after his goal salvaged a point against Sunderland. (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Intervention: David Jones applauds the Owls fans on Wednesday night after his goal salvaged a point against Sunderland. (Picture: Steve Ellis)

Even in the depths of winter, the stroll through Bishop’s Park can be a joy with the approach to Fulham’s home along the north bank of the Thames bringing an air of serenity rarely found on the traditional walk to a football stadium.

For Sheffield Wednesday, this tranquil setting has clearly been an inspiration with only a stoppage-time equaliser last season from Scott Malone denying the visitors a maximum six points against the Cottagers.

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At 9pm on Wednesday night, however, the omens for this weekend’s trip south looked grim.

David Jones and team-mates celebrate his second-half equaliserDavid Jones and team-mates celebrate his second-half equaliser
David Jones and team-mates celebrate his second-half equaliser

Having gifted Sunderland an early lead, the Owls were toiling horribly and, but for some profligate finishing from Simon Grayson’s men, would have been heading for a second defeat in three Championship outings this term.

With the cloud of Fernando Forestieri’s ostracisation from the matchday squad and rumblings over a third slow start under Carlos Carvalhal growing, unbeaten Fulham would surely have sensed blood.

As it is, Wednesday will head to the capital buoyed by a terrific late rally that came so close to securing that precious first league win of the season.

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David Jones, the scorer of the goal that sparked the late onslaught, certainly believes the Yorkshire side have every chance of extending their impressive form under Carvalhal next to the Thames.

David Jones and team-mates celebrate his second-half equaliserDavid Jones and team-mates celebrate his second-half equaliser
David Jones and team-mates celebrate his second-half equaliser

“Fulham will be tough,” said the 32-year-old midfielder after opening his goalscoring account in an Owls shirt. “We are fully aware of that.

“We played them last season and Fulham were a decent side. But we are more than capable of going there and getting all three points.

“It was a disappointing start (against Sunderland) and that can knock you a bit. But we managed, after ten to 15 minutes, to regain our composure and put in a strong performance in terms of we were the ones pushing for the win at the end.”

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Wednesday’s second 1-1 stalemate in five days at Hillsborough, Queens Park Rangers having returned south with a point last Saturday, again came without Forestieri.

He has not featured in the squad since a training ground bust-up last week with Sam Winnall, fuelling speculation over a possible move away for the Argentinian.

Whether Forestieri will be considered tomorrow remains to be seen, though Carvalhal has revealed that the forward has apologised to the squad and is “working hard” to earn a recall.

One man who will be in the squad is Frederico Venancio, a 24-year-old defender who signed on loan for the season from Portuguese outfit Vitoria de Setubal shortly before the draw with Sunderland.

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Carvalhal’s resources in defence are so stretched that left-back Daniel Pudil had to fill in at centre-back against the Black Cats and the Owls’ chief plans at least one more addition.

For now, though, the focus is on Fulham and the task of boosting Wednesday’s points tally at the expense of a side who were the favourites to prevail going into last season’s play-offs only to crash out to Reading in the semi-finals.

“In terms of points on the board, we would want more from the start to the season,” said Jones, when asked to assess a start that brought defeat at Preston North End on the opening day before those draws against QPR and Sunderland.

“But we know what we are capable of and need to turn these performances into three points. We didn’t have a strong first game at all. But then we have done enough in the last two games to get victories, in my opinion.

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“It didn’t quite come (against Sunderland on Wednesday), but there are a lot of games in this league and we want to get some momentum, keep improving our results. We go again in another big game at Fulham.”