Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea City – Goals target for Owls at front of Adam Reach’s mind
In the last nine games, the Owls have netted just five goals, and two of those came in last week’s 2-2 draw at Rotherham United.
New manager Steve Bruce has worked hard on tightening up the Owls’ defence – six clean sheets in those nine games is proof of that – but now Wednesday need to start scoring at the other end.
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Hide AdReach – who has conjured up enough spectacular strikes to hold his own ‘goal of the season’ contest – has netted seven times this term.
But the last of those was the winner at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, the 26-year-old failing to find the net in his last 11 outings ahead of today’s visit of Swansea City to Hillsborough.
“I have not quite got the goal I have been looking for,” said Reach. “It has been a little while now. I have not scored since Boxing Day.
“I will be looking to get a goal on Saturday if I can and, hopefully, from now until the end of the season I would like to get to that double figure mark.
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Hide Ad“I think that is a good achievement for a wide player or an attacking midfielder.
“I have tried to improve every season. If I see improvements, then I am happy.
“I only scored four goals last season and I have seven now so there is an improvement.
“I have got five assists at the minute so that is 12 goals I have either created or scored. That is not a bad return. It could be better, of course it could and I am always the first person to look at myself and see where I can improve but it has been a testing season.
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Hide Ad“If I can come out with good stats like that, I’m pretty impressed. I have not quite played in the same position in attack. I have been in the middle, defensively positioned earlier on in the season. I think I have been settled in the last month or two and I think I have been putting in good performances.”
Today kicks off three successive home games in 10 days –against the Swans, Brentford on Tuesday night, before the Sheffield derby a week on Monday.
With Wednesday floating in mid-table, the final 13 games give Bruce the chance to assess his squad before a summer shake-up.
“You know we’ve got three games in a week and the big one that everybody is looking forward to. It’s a chance to get a few results before we take on our neighbours and that’s what we’ll be looking to do if we can.
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Hide Ad“I have to say Swansea are a very good football side, Brentford are a very good football side and we know our neighbours are doing very well at the moment.
“As I have seen in the Championship, it is always difficult but let’s see how we get on and how we deal with it.
“It would be nice to have a return of points, of course it would and it gives us a wonderful opportunity.”