Owls chief needs to find a way to polish off fellow strugglers

A trip to rock-bottom Ipswich Town and a tussle with third-bottom Peterborough United would, even in the Championship where shock results are a weekly occurrence, hardly represent the most trying of schedules under normal circumstances.

For Wednesday, however, the past couple of months have been anything but ordinary with their last nine outings having yielded just a couple of draws.

Manager Dave Jones, though, remains confident that his side can start to turn things round – starting with the forthcoming double against the two teams sitting either side of the Owls in the table.

He said: “The situation we are in means they are important games. But then every game we play is important, not just these two.

“We know that. We just have to keep believing. I do feel it is turning but at the same time it is frustrating. All we can do is keep working at it.

“It has been a big jump into this division (following promotion from League One last May). We knew it wouldn’t be easy – we went to a team (Blackburn on Wednesday night) who were in the Premier League last season.

“But we have to keep plugging away. If we weren’t creating chances then there would be a major problem. But we are creating them and getting in good positions. Now we have to find that quality pass.”

Wednesday’s defeat at Ewood Park on Wednesday night was wearily familiar with good approach play being let down by a poor final pass or a rushed attempt at goal.

On the balance of play, few could argue that the Owls deserved better than a 1-0 defeat but the challenge facing Jones and his players now is to turn those promising situations into goals. It is one that the 56-year-old is ready to tackle head on.

Jones said: “We couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. We did everything but score. Take away the first 10 minutes and I think we absolutely slaughtered them.

“But the final pass is letting us down. In our last two games, we have dominated but managed just one goal. We laid siege to the goal at Blackburn but didn’t really make the goalkeeper work. That is frustrating.

“I feel for the players because they are so close. But that little lack of quality around the box is costing us at the moment.

“We are creating between 10 and 15 opportunities a game. People need to get on the end of things.

“How many chances did we make? How many entries did we have into the box? How many times did they get a block or we didn’t choose the right pass?”

Wednesday’s opponents Ipswich have their own problems going into tomorrow’s game following the departure of manager Paul Jewell.

The former Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday manager called time on his 19-month stay at Portman Road following Tuesday’s defeat to Derby County, a result that dumped the Tractor Boys to the foot of the Championship.

Jewell’s tenure may have not worked out but he insists the job he has just left remains an attractive one.

He said: “I have already had a few managers on the phone and I told them not to hesitate (to apply). It is a great football club and I really hope the club goes on to great things because it deserves it.

“The club is in very good hands with (owner) Marcus (Evans) right up there with the best chairmen I have worked with.”