Return of ‘forgotten men’ helps Owls halt losing run

Before Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth, the Owls had lost seven on the bounce and seen former manager Alan Irvine lose his job.

But at Dean Court, Megson axed January transfer window signings Michael Morrison and Mark Reynolds – who have both struggled for form since their Hillsborough arrival – and reverted to forgotten men Mark Beevers, Richard Hinds and Tommy Spurr in a revamped back four.

Sheffield-born Hinds had not started a league match all season while Academy products Beevers and Tommy Spurr were axed following defeat to Huddersfield Town on January 3.

Coupled with switching flanks for Spurr – he moved back to his more accustomed left-back spot – Wednesday claimed their first clean sheet in League One for three months.

And despite the Cherries’ Michael Symes missing a second-half penalty, Megson believes the Owls could have nicked a win and has called for a repeat display when they travel to Carlisle on Saturday – their fifth successive away game in February – as they seek their first win in the league since mid-December.

He said: “They will look at the penalty they missed and rightly so but I thought we were much improved and I’m disappointed we haven’t won the game considering the chances we made. Their goalkeeper was by far the busier.”

Megson opted for a 4-5-1 formation on Tuesday, meaning a lone striking role for Gary Madine, and as part of six changes gave a debut to teenager Liam Palmer in midfield.

“He’s a young lad and I thought he did well,” Megson said.

“I told him to keep asking for the ball and he was giving their centre-backs a lot of trouble with his forward runs.

“I thought he was the best player on the pitch with the ball at his feet. That was also Richard Hinds’s first full game for a long time and I thought Gary Madine did terrific up front on his own.”

Wednesday – who have been linked with a loan move for West Ham’s Benni McCarthy – are 12 points off the play-off places, but with three games in hand on sixth-placed MK Dons.

Port Vale chairman Bill Bratt has revealed initial talks with Mo Chaudry about a possible takeover have gone well.

The local businessman, who failed in an attempt to take control of the npower League Two club in 2003, met with the Vale board on February 14, but Bratt has warned fans not to expect an immediate resolution.

“To sell a football club isn’t a week’s work or a month’s work, it’s three months’ work,” Bratt said.