Moving the ball forward more quickly and learning to grind out results are the big things Matt Hamshaw wants to drill into Sheffield Wednesday as caretaker manager.

Hamshaw is minding the shop with the widespread expectation his second match, at home to Blackpool at 2pm on Sunday, will be his last.

Work is going on behind the scenes to find a full-time replacement for Henrik Pedersen, with former Stockport County coach Dave Challinor still thought to be the front-runner. Hamshaw hopes to return to the coaching ranks.

But until then, he wants to do his bit to push the Owls towards promotion and the football expected of them in League One.

This is his third caretaker stint, after Derby County and Rotherham United, but he says he is approaching it the same way as he when he was full-time Millers manager.

“I don't think I've handled it any differently,” he reflected.

“I'm trying to re-emphasise to the players that they're good players, trying to allow us to be more front-footed. I want the lads to perform to the best of their abilities because I know what they're capable of.

“It's trying to be consistent in your principles and your values, but then playing a way the fans want to see.

CARETAKER: Matt Hamshaw (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — CARETAKER: Matt Hamshaw (Image: Steve Ellis)

“My frustration on Tuesday (when the Owls drew 1-1 at home to Cambridge United) was we kept going backwards and sideways and that's what I hate seeing. I think the fans don't really want to see that either.

“It's about doing what we're good at, which is getting it forward.

“I'll be standing in the technical area on Sunday but if I was sat in the stands, I'd want to see that.

“It's making sure the Wednesday fans go away on Sunday knowing the lads have given 100 per cent, we've been as forward-thinking as we can be and we've got three points. Then see what happens on Monday.”

DOUBT: Sheffield Wednesday's Di'Shon Bernard (left) (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Pedersen lost his job a week ago, and asked what the Owls must do better to be a success in League One, which Hamshaw has been promoted out of four times as part of Paul Warne's coaching staffs, he replied: “Grinding results out is a big one.

“You have to go on long (unbeaten) runs. You have to turn that losing position into a drawing one, that drawing position into a winning one.

“If we nick a goal against Wigan, we nick a goal against Stockport, we nick a goal on Tuesday night, the table looks a lot different.”

Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Hamshaw said he was still unsure what defenders he will have available, and hinted it could affect what formation he chooses.

Defenders Liam Cooper, Di'Shon Bernard, Ricardo Santos and Sil Swinkels missed Tuesday’s draw.

“Everything's kind of up in the air a little bit,” admitted Hamshaw. “It's going to be a race against the clock.

“I can't go into too much detail for obvious reasons but hopefully some will make it. Some won't.

“I think we've missed Coops, we've missed Dish, we've missed Rico. Ernie (Weaver) started off a bit shaky the first 15 minutes and grew into (Tuesday’s) game.

“The lads are desperate to get back.”

Minding the shop is not going to stop him making big calls, he insists.

“I've been told by the owners I'm in charge and whatever I think we need to do to get a result, we do,” he said. “We'll see what personnel we've got and that may or may not change the way we do things.

“The squad's been recruited to play in a flexible manner, different formations, different systems.

“It's finding a way to find the best out of what we've got available.”

Owls preview: Page 4