Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke City - Manager Tony Pulis warning for Owls’ bad boys

Tony Pulis has told his players they need to be more disciplined after last week’s red card for Josh Windass disrupted his plans for a settled side.
Off: Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass (right) is sent off during the Sky Bet Championship match at Preston. Picture:  Tim Markland/PA Wire.Off: Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass (right) is sent off during the Sky Bet Championship match at Preston. Picture:  Tim Markland/PA Wire.
Off: Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass (right) is sent off during the Sky Bet Championship match at Preston. Picture: Tim Markland/PA Wire.

Stoke City, the club where Pulis made his name as a top-level manager, are the opposition for his first Hillsborough game as Sheffield Wednesday manager.

A grade two groin tear which is expected to keep goalkeeper Keiren Westwood out for “a couple of weeks” means there is no chance of fielding an unchanged side this afternoon. Joe Wildsmith, who came off the bench in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Swansea City, is set to deputise.

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Josh Windass led the line in Pulis’s first game, days earlier at Preston North End, but became the fourth Owls player sent off already this season, and therefore misses today’s game through suspension. Winger Kadeem Harris is available after completing his own ban for a red card at home to Millwall.

Behave: Owls' Josh Windass was sent off this challenge against Preston - the fourth Wednesday player to receive a straight red card this season.   Picture: Steve EllisBehave: Owls' Josh Windass was sent off this challenge against Preston - the fourth Wednesday player to receive a straight red card this season.   Picture: Steve Ellis
Behave: Owls' Josh Windass was sent off this challenge against Preston - the fourth Wednesday player to receive a straight red card this season. Picture: Steve Ellis

Given that injuries are such a problem at Hillsborough – centre-back Dominic Iorfa is still a week away from fitness – ill-discipline is exacerbating their difficulties.

“What we need now is some consistency in the team, I don’t like changing it too much,” said Pulis. “There’s an obvious component missing in the group, and most supporters will see that.

“We have to fix that but the player’s attitudes have been excellent. We’ve probably deserved more than what we’ve got.

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“I was really disappointed to find out that the club had already had four players sent off at the beginning of the season (all straight reds). We have spoken about it and dealt with it.

“Hopefully, fingers crossed, that has changed. We have put rules in place for that.

“They have to understand their responsibility to play as hard as they can but fairly and not get involved with any of the officials and not to do stupid things which cost them, the team and the football club.

“Maybe the discipline that was lacking a bit we have tried to put back in.”

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Sorely missing are goals, having only scored seven in 13 Championship games. Callum Paterson will be one of those expected to provide them, but from midfield, so with Jack Marriott unlikely to play again this year, Windass’s pace and presence at centre-forward would be valuable. Jordan Rhodes started there in Swansea.

“The problem that we have got at the moment is for all the openings that we created, we didn’t have the pace or power up there to play ball forwards,” he said of the midweek draw.

“I think Reachy (Adam Reach) and (Barry) Bannan were in really good passing positions at times, but we didn’t have options like Harris and Windass.

“The modern game is about pace and power up front.

“If you look at all the top teams, they always threaten in behind and take you back to your own goal.

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“We’re stopping at a point and not going on at the moment and that’s very important for us to address.”

Pulis believes Paterson can help, but does not see him as the centre-forward predecessor Garry Monk brought him from Cardiff City in October to be.

“He’s got so many strings to his bow,” said Pulis. “I’d love to see him arriving in the box late. I think he could get you 10, 15 goals. He’s got the energy and ability to time his runs.”

Paterson was unwittingly involved in controversy last week after twice having his genitals grabbed by Preston’s Darnell Fisher, consequently banned for three games.

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“What the lad did was ridiculous – did he try to get Callum get sent off?” asked Pulis. “That’s the only reason I can think he’s done it. It shouldn’t happen in professional sport.

“Callum was fabulous by not reacting. He’s been a shining light in the two games we’ve played, he’s been outstanding for us.”

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