Gray on the hat-trick trail as he issues Sharp warning

The Sheffield Wednesday head coach has achieved several praiseworthy statistics since taking the helm but is eyeing a first today, namely a hat-trick of successive league wins under his command.

The Owls, fresh from firing a combined total of seven goals in polished home wins over Birmingham and QPR, will not be lacking in confidence or support today, with a 4,300 visiting contingent making the short trip up the M18.

They lock horns with a home side who have been strong at the Keepmoat Stadium since Christmas but Wednesday, who overpowered Huddersfield Town in their last away White Rose assignment last month, will not be cowed.

Victory would put the Owls within two points of a half-century of points this season and potentially within one place off the Championship’s top 10 if results go their way.

Gray said: “We are full of confidence, we have scored seven goals in the last two games and we are playing well.

“We have got various scorers and players who are enjoying their football and playing with confidence. We go into the game with the belief that we can win and the belief that we have a very good squad who are rowing in the same direction.”

Gray has warned the Owls to be on their guard against lifelong Blade Billy Sharp, whom they looked at signing at the start of the season on loan, with the sharp-shooter famously netting the only goal the last time the derby rivals met at the Keepmoat in December, 2009.

Gray said of the Rovers striker: “He was one of many strikers we looked at.”

“He’s a fox in the box; he’s done it throughout his career.”