In truth, there was not much to be learnt from Dave Challinor's first home game as manager of Sheffield Wednesday, much more from what he said after it.

Trying to lift rather than turn the fortunes of the League One club, he is doing so with one hand tied behind his back. Rightly or wrongly, it is why he decided not to risk making the situation worse on Wednesday.

Already in the last 32 of the Football League Trophy, all that was at stake was whether they or Accrington Stanley would top the group and secure a home tie. The League Two club wanted it more. Far more.

Whilst they named a strong side, Challinor basically wrote the game off, more interested in protecting his first-teamers from injury than using what was effectively the second of two pre-season games for him to decide his line-up for his first match that really matters – Plymouth Argyle at home on Saturday.

So it was no surprise Accrington ran out 4-0 winners, Josh Smith's goal added to by the Charlies – Brown, Warren and Caton.

When the final whistle blew, it felt like a missed opportunity to get a first win since the 5-0 hammering of Wimbledon in mid-October.

But when Challinor revealed another key player is now injured, it made a little bit more sense.

With eight of the midweek XI having only kicked off 14 league matches for the Owls – the other three only had a combined 75 – Challinor's teamsheet was an act of surrender. Picking your battles, he would say.

placeholder image — INJURY: Max Lowe (Image: Steve Ellis)

Louis Poland and substitute James Kay made debuts, and there was a first start to Denny Oliver.

Connal Trueman made some saves to put minds at rest if Joe Lumley is not fit on Saturday – that seems touch and go –and Oliver and winger Samuel Duruh showed flashes, but no one cast doubt on Challinor's best team, even with all the injuries.

Striker George Brown's first outing of an injury-hit 2026 was a fillip, but after 45 minutes of a fairly dead Trophy game, not a solution.

"It's not been that useful," said Challinor, in reference to the results when asked how helpful starting with two cup games was, "but it's given us a chance to see people.

PROMISE: Samuel Duruh (Image: Steve Ellis)

"We wanted to progress on Sunday (in the FA Cup first round but) we were probably not going to win the FA Cup this season and we're definitely not going to win it now.

"We used it to look at things, but also try and protect some players. That didn't work in some instances. Progression in the (Trophy) allowed us to prioritise Saturday.

"I suppose (Wednesday's game was) what I expected, really.

"Some young players made their debuts and it was a really proud moment for them. They should be better for the experience whether it's good or bad."

The game felt like an obligation to tick off on a freezing night when only 5,472 supporters were in attendance. Fans can be cold on the Trophy, defiled by Premier League under-21 teams, at the best of times. Some take a club of Wednesday's stature having to field their first team in it as an insult.

Depending who they select at the weekend, the Owls could be fined for Wednesday’s weak team. Even if their mitigation does not wash, the punishment will be small, £5,000, but this is a club forced to count the pennies as it emerges from the wreckage left by Dejphon Chansiri.

So what was Challinor protecting them from?

"We've got six or seven players out," he said. "We've got four on international duty. We're coming into a run of fixtures between now and the new year of 11 games so we're going to need all of our players."

Liam Cooper, Billy Mitchell and Louis Barry had trained at the start of the week but not risked. Erine Weaver was.

"Ernie is struggling on the back of the foot injury he had last season," revealed Challinor.

"He's probably got into a rhythm where he plays games and then misses a few days' training to let his foot settle down a bit.

"I thought in the second half he did really well apart from the one mistake where he jumped in and then we concede the (third) goal as a consequence."

Oldham Athletic winning after extra-time on Sunday took a toll.

"Dish (Di'Shon Bernard) was like a tin man on Monday, Tuesday," said his manager. "Jammer (Jamal Lowe), Davo (Davis Keillor-Dunn) had a bit of cramp, Yan (Valery) came off with some cramp. Ash (Maynard-Brewer) got a bit of a whack. He's fine, he probably misses the weekend."

But then came the bombshell.

"Max (Lowe) has got a recurrence of the injury he had earlier in the season, so he's going to be out for probably four to six weeks."

Left-sided defender is a key player, especially with Reece James out too.

"It’s disappointing because you saw the impact and profile of him in terms of what we want to try and do in possession,” added Challinor, "but something we'll have to deal with."

So was a proud club surrendering a game, even one of this low priority.

Now Challinor needs Saturday’s end to justify the means.