Di'Shon Bernard goal points to Sheffield Wednesday tweak that can up entertainment levels

But it would be unreasonable to expect an instant transformation, especially with injuries forcing players into unfamiliar positions.

After six games without a win and cup defeats in Challinor's first two matches, Wednesday just needed to get over the line.

But on an afternoon where the football never rivalled Plymouth's orange away kit for brightness, one moment really stood out.

It was born of a mistake, Di'Shon Bernard failing to find Keillor-Dunn after winning the ball deep in Wednesday territory.

But when Malachi Boateng's interception turned into a one-two and the centre-back drove into shooting range and scored in off a post.

The game already won by Keillor-Dunn's finish two minutes earlier, it was no more than the cherry on the cake, six games into Bernard’s return from a 19-month knee injury.

But the story of Henrik Pedersen's tenure was clear – excited by the potential of David Storch’s ownership, Owls fans are greedy. They do not just want the cake, they want the cherries too. After the thin gruel of last season, who can blame them?

"I want people to be brave," said Challinor. "If the shot goes into the Kop, so be it. I'll always encourage people to make positive decisions.

"It's a learning thing for Dish.

"They're going to make mistakes. We're going to ask them to do things that are different.

"Of course we'll get frustrated, but that's acceptable. That's on us and that will always be the case."

Wednesday's shape flitted between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-2-4-1 when Sil Swinkels tucked from left-back into a more familiar position.

Back threes need a player willing to break out, especially on days – not Saturday, in fairness – when the visitors come to S6 to frustrate.

"We should, if we do things right, come up against more blocks and teams getting men behind the ball,” argued Challinor.

"That's when people need to step in, be positive and make the most of opportunities. That comes from backing yourself, and quality."

Bernard, a team-mate of Marcus Rashford in the Manchester United youth ranks, has that.

Crucially, he can defend too.

"He wants to put his body on the line," commented Challinor. "He got injured at Notts County by blocking a shot and opening his knee up.

"There's loads of work we can do with him, he can get so much better.

"We'll ask him to be better and more positive in possession as well as being able to do the other things."

When pressed into giving the ball up in the 37th minute he got back to kill the move when it came into the penalty area. When Xavier Amaechi threatened to force his way through, Bernard refused to be shaken off and made an excellent recovery tackle.

He believes working with Challinor and his assistant Clint Hill – more no-nonsense centre-backs in their day – can elevate his game.

"Playing the right of a three he's trusting me to do more on the ball," he says. "Before I got injured, that was probably one of my strengths.

"Now I need to really just build up the confidence to do more of it because you can see in glimpses I am capable of it.

"He's pushing me to be that player and I'm grateful him and his staff have shown that's what I need to do."

For the 80 minutes before those two goals in two minutes there was not a great deal to write home about.

The fizzing atmosphere Challinor was looking forward to after only tasting Hillsborough-lite in the EFL Trophy was flat for an hour because Wednesday's football was.

Although they were fortunate Roman Curtis' chest high tackle on Jamal Lowe only got a yellow card, Plymouth should have gone in at half-time multiple goals up.

Instead, when Bernard's goalbound header was nodded over at the end of the first half, Billy Mitchell’s deflected shot from the corner brought his first goal since 2021.

The second half was more even but Hillsborough helped its team over the line.

Having missed an easy chance from a quick throw-in, Keillor-Dunn poked home the loose ball at a badly-defended free-kick and at 2-0 the contest was over.

But the mouth-watering bit was still to come.

Sheffield Wednesday: Lumley; Valery, Bernard, Cooper, Swinkels; Mitchell, Heskey; Slattery, Bannan (Barry 72), J Lowe (Palmer 85); Keillor-Dunn (Gray 85).

Unused substitutes: Santos, Trueman, Weaver, Thornton.

Plymouth Argyle: Cooper; Harding, MacKenzie (Irow 63), Hartridge; Curtis, Boateng, White (Oseni 77), Ross; Amaechi, Ibrahim (Watts 63); Evans.

Unused substitutes: Storer, Campbell, Mwaro, Maund.

Referee: A Backhouse (Carlisle).

TALKING POINTS

​The misses: Plymouth spurned some great chances, Xavier Amaechi horribly failing to make contact with a ball in from Bradley Ibrahim, then heading a great second-half chance from a Alex Hartridge cross wide. Earlier, Will Evans cushioned a volley into the side netting when Joe Lumley’s flapping at a corner left the goal gaping.

Star performers: Di’Shon Bernard was excellent but so too was midfielder Billy Mitchell, the stand-out Owls player in a first half where they were well below par.

Run over: This was the first time in eight league games Hillsborough’s attendance had officially fallen below 30,000 – though only by 772. The football did not lift them in the first half but they took it upon themselves to inspire the players around the hour.