Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday – Owls look to banish negativity with elusive win

HIGHS AND LOWS: Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael celebrates at Hillsborough as Sheffield Wednesday manager Tony Pulis contemplates another setback. Picture: Andrew Yates/Sportimage

The Owls are bottom of the Championship having lost their last three matches, surrendering excellent derby records to Huddersfield Town and Barnsley last week. Pulis will be searching for his first win in charge at the ninth attempt when he takes his players to another out-of-form side, Nottingham Forest, for tonight’s game at the City Ground.

Centre-back Dunkley made his long-awaited debut after February’s double leg break at home to Barnsley on Saturday and within minutes his side had a 1-0 lead courtesy of Josh Windass but they failed to build on it – something Pulis attributed to a lack of confidence – and finished as 2-1 losers.

“To go 1-0 up it’s disappointing how it ended,” reflected Dunkley. “A bit of nerves might be creeping in.”

LONG WAIT: Chey Dunkley made his long-awaited Owls debut in Saturday's defeat to Barnsley at Hillsborough. Picture: Steve Ellis

Pulis said the only cure is to taste victory again, but that is proving elusive for the players he inherited in mid-November.

“(Saturday’s) first half was really disappointing because we got the goal and then we sat back again – that negativity’s down to the results they’ve had, that’s been going on for a while,” he explained.

“The only way you get that out of your system is to win a game, they need to win a game.

“If they do they’ll get that little bit of confidence and, fingers crossed, they’ll push on from there.

TOUGH TIMES: Sheffield Wednesday boss Tony Pulis. Picture: Steve Ellis.

“(On Saturday) we switched off twice. The corner (Cauley Woodrow equalised from) was comical in some respects, there’s two of three players doing things you wouldn’t see on the parks and the second goal (scored by Dominik Frieser)... people run inside you and it’s just a one-two around the corner.

“We changed it around a little bit in the second half (switching formation to 3-5-2) and there was much more positivity.”

Victory tonight would take the Owls to within a point of Forest, who have struggled themselves under new manager Chris Hughton, and a Derby County side under the caretaker control of Wayne Rooney.

For two league champions – and in Forest’s case European Cup winners – of the 1970s and well-resourced clubs to be in the second-tier relegation zone is a surprise, but Dunkley downplayed the suggestion that tonight’s match was any more important because Wednesday are playing one of the teams around them.

BACK IN THE GAME: Sheffield Wednesday's Chey Dunkley gets a well done from boss Tony Pulis after being substituted during the second half in the defeat to Barnsley at Hillsborough. Picture: Steve Ellis

“Every game’s important where we are (in the table), whether it’s against the top of the table or the teams around us, every game is important,” he insisted. “We just need points whoever it’s against. Every game’s a cup final.

“I’m surprised we are down there.

“There’s some big teams down there but we can’t be focussed on other teams, we’ve just got to try and put together performances.

“You can’t guarantee results but we’ve just got to make sure we’re doing our best to win the games.”

Forest have lost six of their last matches, drawing the other.

But where Dunkley insists there was no mental barrier at the weekend was in his return to senior football after the most serious injury of his career.

He says there were no doubts in his mind when he went in for his first tackle at Hillsborough on Saturday.

“I can’t be thinking that,” he said. “When I am out there I’m giving it 100 per cent.

“I’m mentally strong.

“These things happen, even a fully-fit person has broken their leg. If I’m going in for a challenge I’m going in for a challenge. This gaffer doesn’t like anyone hiding so that’s not in my thinking at all.

“I’m here, it’s tough for me, I need to get minutes in, but I’m here to fight. Coming off a third loss, we need to bounce back. We need to be eating right, be professional. The boys are fighting. We know what position we are in, but it’s roll your sleeves up.”

Last six games: Nottingham Forest LLLDLL; Sheffield Wednesday LLLDDD

Referee: S Martin (Staffordshire)

Last time: Nottingham Forest 0 Sheffield Wednesday 4, December 14, 2019, Championship.

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