Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford: Springboard to safety can aid Morrison’s Owls cause

The Owls host Brentford tonight in the first of three consecutive home games that Morrison regards as a springboard to safety.

Victories against Brentford, Colchester United and Tranmere Rovers can virtually guarantee survival but Morrison, one of the last players to join the club prior to last month’s sacking of manager Alan Irvine, is taking nothing for granted in relation to next season.

New manager Gary Megson is still assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the players at Hillsborough and Morrison was initially dropped in a bid to improve results.

Although now back in the side, the former Leicester City defender, 23, still has plenty to prove during the remaining nine games of the season.

“I think everyone is playing for their future at the club,” said Morrison yesterday.

“You never know what is going to happen in the summer but the results have not gone well so the gaffer will be looking to bring in new players.

“I’m in the team right now and I want to show what I can do so that he is not looking to replace me,” he said.

Morrison was one of five new arrivals at the club in January when new owner and chairman Milan Mandaric was trying his best to support Irvine in the transfer market.

Since Irvine’s departure, however, Megson has added another four new players including centre-backs Rob Jones and Daniel Batth.

When Reda Johnson returns from international duty and Mark Beevers recovers from a broken cheekbone, the competition for places at the back will intensify again but Morrison can also play at right-back which increases his chances of selection.

“As long as I am playing, I will be happy,” he said.

“I just want to be a mainstay of the team whether at right-back or centre-back.

“It’s been a difficult time for everyone at the football club. Alan Irvine brought me in because he thought I had something to offer, then Gary Megson has come in with different ideas and I was out of the side for a while. It’s about dealing with that.

“I have played under different managers and, hopefully now, I have shown a bit of what I can do,” he said.

“It’s not gone as well as I would have hoped and I thought I would be joining a battle for the play-offs. Hopefully, that will be the case next season but, right now, we have to deal with this situation.

“We have not been set a target for survival but a victory against Brentford could take us seven points clear and we wouldn’t be looking so sharply over our shoulders in the table.

“If we can pick up two wins this week, it will make things easier for the rest of the season. We need to instil a winning mentality at the club.”

Megson, likely to be charged with improper conduct by the Football Association over weekend criticism of referee Steve Rushton, is still without a home win as Owls manager but has only played three of his first 11 league games at Hillsborough.

The Owls were denied a weekend victory against Dagenham and Redbridge by a controversial penalty decision and so remained just four points clear of the drop zone.

Tonight’s opponents Brentford are six points better off but having played a game more.

Megson is under pressure from some supporters to scrap a 4-5-1 system and play 4-4-2 at home but is far from convinced that it best suits the club’s current players.

He will need to make a decision tonight on the fitness of loan signing Joey O’Brien, who played the full 90 minutes in midfield against Dagenham after over two years on the sidelines with injury.

Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne could return after shaking off a minor knock.

Defender Lewis Buxton is also pushing for a start at left-back after replacing Mark Reynolds at Dagenham.

“Defensively and without the ball, we were superb last weekend,” said Megson yesterday.

“The work-rate and the organisation was there but we were undone by a decision that looked bad at the time and looks ridiculous now.

“I watched (second place) Huddersfield Town play on Sunday and, in my view, we have a better team.

“I am sure Lee Clark (Town’s manager) would say differently and the league table would show they are the better team – but the only thing they do better than us is run and play at a tempo and get about the game. I do know why that it is – but I am not going to say,” he added cryptically.

“We can’t feel sorry four ourselves, we can’t hope for things to happen, we have to make sure they happen,” he said.

“I am expecting us to start at a really high tempo, throw ourselves into the game, and work our socks off for the shirt. I want us competing for every loose ball, passing it when we get it, and to be a threat at set-pieces. I am also expecting a big crowd because the supporters will know just how important the game is.”

Last six games: Sheffield Weds LWLLLD Brentford LLWLWW.

Last time: Sheffield Weds 1 Brentford 0; May 12, 2005, League One.

Referee: A Haines (Tyne & Wear).