Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton: Pressure grows as Owls look to arrest early slide

Defeats in the last three fixtures have re-ignited unrest towards the club's board but a further loss today may also put pressure on Irvine and his squad.

The Owls invested heavily in new talent this summer and, while early results were impressive, they now have a point to prove.

Irvine questioned his side's 'mentality' after defeat last weekend at Plymouth Argyle and says other players are knocking on his door wanting an opportunity to play.

"You always have big decisions to make and it's easy to make knee-jerk reactions," he said. "It hurts but we can't just throw away everything we have done because a lot of things have been good.

"One or two people have knocked on my door but it would be wrong for me to say who," he revealed. "They have not come in ranting and raving - they are a good bunch and simply ask what they need to do to get back in the team."

Summer signings Paul Heffernan, Jon Otsemobor, and Daniel Jones have yet to start a league game while Scottish international Gary Teale, another new arrival, dropped to the bench last weekend.

"My door is open to anybody at anytime," Irvine said. "The important thing is that everybody should treat everybody else with respect. We have a policy, in terms of how players behave if they are substituted or left out, and I have had no cause to pull anybody up because they have gone against that policy.

"You can't say the last three defeats don't mean anything but, equally, you cannot say it is the end of the world. We have lost three games by the odd goal, so we can't be too far away."

After the disappointment of relegation last season, Owls supporters are unlikely to settle for anything less than an immediate return to the Championship.

Irvine will shoulder some of the blame but insists that the quality of the opposition in League One means promotion is far from guaranteed.

"I am certainly not saying that I don't make mistakes because I do," he said. "There are always things you can do better and the first person I always look at is myself. I am always very critical and I wouldn't turn around and says 'it's all the players fault' because it isn't.

"At the start of the season, I stressed that there were a lot of good teams in this division but some people have not listened. I am saying it because I believe it, not because I am trying to make life easy."

Off-the-field, the Owls are fighting a mounting battle for financial survival and new investment is urgently needed to avoid the threat of administration. Former manager Chris Turner leads the prime takeover bid on behalf of a consortium with links to the oil industry.

Supporters chanted 'Sack the Board' at the last home game against Carlisle United and there is again the possibility of protests today..

"I would hope that, despite the last three results, the fans will be right behind us and help if things are a little bit difficult," said Irvine. "They pay their money and they can watch in whichever they want.

"It's obviously more helpful if they are getting behind us and making a lot of noise for the right reasons – but if they have frustrations they want to air, problems they want to get off their shoulders, we can't stop that.

"Does it help us? No, it doesn't. But I am not going to say to the fans 'don't do it' because it's up to them what they do."

Today's opponents Southampton lured Nigel Adkins away from Scunthorpe United after controversially sacking manager Alan Pardew just three games into the season.

The Saints, who were also one of the favourites to win promotion, have gone five games without a goal and sit just a point off the bottom of the table.

Irvine said: "They will see this as a game where, if they get the right result, it may well change their season. It's a huge game for both clubs. It's not going to make the whole difference but it can certainly help each club in the short term."

Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton

Team news: Owls manager Alan Irvine is considering changes after three consecutive defeats. Winger Jermaine Johnson is still ruled out by a knee injury.

Last six games: Wednesday LWWLLL Southampton WLLLLD.

Last time: Wednesday 2 Southampton 0; April 18 2009, Championship.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire)

SkyBet odds: Wednesday to win 5-4, Southampton to win 21-10, Draw 12-5.