Wednesday sit second in League One, midway through the international break, on 14 points from seven games, and the only side above them has just lost its manager. Midweek, Di'Shon Bernard started his first game in 19 months as Henrik Pedersen's side came from behind to beat Salford City 2-1 in the EFL Trophy. Saturday's trip to Stevenage was one of two league games postponed for international call-ups, so league football returns at Huddersfield Town on 10 October.
Kids and a comeback at Salford
It wasn't pretty. Salford had the better of a first half in which Wednesday barely threatened, and the Owls went in behind. The second half belonged to the academy.
Joel Akpobi, making his senior debut on the left, whipped in the cross that Davis Keillor-Dunn headed home five minutes after the restart. Playing through the middle rather than out wide, Keillor-Dunn looked far more at home. Kai McPartland, another debutant, came on at right-back on the hour and won the penalty that Jamal Lowe converted for the winner. Forward Samuel Duruh also got his first senior minutes.
"He was nervous, so nervous," Pedersen said of Akpobi, who was named man of the match. "But he did it really, really well. He played with a big, big courage and a big heart." Within days the winger had signed his first professional contract.
The night's biggest story, though, was at the back. Di'Shon Bernard started his first game in 19 months, and afterwards he opened up to The Wednesday Word about finally being back out there. The one sour note was Gabriel Otegbayo, who picked up a knock in the closing minutes. Salford's boss, for his part, felt his side deserved to win.
Second place, but a restless Hillsborough
On paper, it has been an excellent start. Wednesday have 14 points from seven games (four wins, two draws and one defeat), with 13 goals scored and six conceded. Only Bradford City sit above them, and Bradford are the only side to have beaten the Owls, winning 1-0 at Hillsborough in August.
The leaders now have problems of their own. Last Thursday Bradford "reluctantly" allowed Preston North End to speak to Graham Alexander, and on Monday the club confirmed that Alexander and assistant Lee Lucketti have left. Wednesday also have two postponed league games still to play.
The mood at home is more uneasy than the table suggests. Goalless draws with Wigan and Stockport were followed by boos at full time, and Wednesday have now failed to score in four of their five home games in all competitions. Pedersen puts part of that down to a congested schedule that has allowed little more than recovery sessions since pre-season. "I think we are all very hungry to play better, but to create a result in this beginning, we know how hard League One is," he told The Star. He expects a fortnight on the training ground to sharpen both the possession game and the press, and the club has added a new first-team coach to fix a long-standing weakness at set pieces.
Questions return over Pedersen
The results have been good, but the performances have not kept pace, and the debate over Henrik Pedersen's future has resurfaced. Opinion among supporters is split between those who want a change now and those asking for patience until Christmas.
The underlying numbers explain the unease. Stockport had 18 shots to Wednesday's six at Hillsborough, and both Wigan and Stockport missed chances better than any the Owls created. Despite Pedersen's talk of a high press, Wednesday allow around 12 passes per defensive action, roughly 15th in League One on figures discussed on the Owls Extra debate show; leaders Bradford allow 9.6.
Team selection is the other flashpoint. Davis Keillor-Dunn and Jamal Lowe have both been used wide, with Harry Gray and Kieran Morrison on the bench, and there are doubts over whether Barry Bannan, Billy Mitchell and Callum Slattery can all start together. Injuries to Louie Barry, Sil Swinkels, Jordi Liongola and Max Lowe have forced some of those reshuffles. That is the main argument for patience, alongside 18 new signings and a club that barely survived last season.
The atmosphere is a concern too. Gabriel Otegbayo, Jarvis Thornton and Mason Burstow have all been booed by sections of the home crowd, which has drawn criticism from other supporters. Results have bought Pedersen time, but after a fortnight on the training ground the improvement needs to show at Huddersfield.
Treatment room
The break has helped. According to The Star's injury update, Sil Swinkels is slightly ahead of Max Lowe in his recovery. Pedersen hopes both can return in the next week or two, although neither is expected for Huddersfield, and Lowe is instead targeting the AFC Wimbledon game. Jordi Liongola may also struggle to make it to the John Smith's Stadium. Louie Barry is "smiling again" as his rehab goes on.
There are fresh concerns too. Ali Al-Hamadi pulled out of the Iraq squad after one training session with an ankle problem, and Pedersen admitted: "I need some more information about this before I can say anything." It is too early to say how serious Otegbayo's knock is. Seven players are away on international duty, including Harry Gray with England U19s, Kieran Morrison with Northern Ireland, and Yan Valery.
Around the club
It was a harder week further down. Sheffield Wednesday Ladies were beaten for the first time this season. The U21s lost 2-1 to Colchester United, with Harry Chadbourne scoring, and the U18s drew 2-2 with the same opponents thanks to goals from Thomas Conlan and Charlie Robinson.
Former Owls favourite John Harkes has been talking about his time at Hillsborough and his relationship with owner David Storch, and answered supporters' questions. David Ford is a lifelong Owl, an FA Cup final scorer and the club's first ever substitute in the 1960s. He and his wife Angie are delighted by how the new owners have welcomed back club legends. A former Liverpool and Wednesday player warned of the struggles ahead in League One, while Des Walker insisted promotion is a must.
Coming up
Sunderland U21 visit Hillsborough in the EFL Trophy first, before a Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield restarts the league. Huddersfield are fourth but have gone three without a win. The two postponed games have been placed in quieter weeks: Cambridge United come to Hillsborough on a Tuesday night, and the Stevenage trip comes four days after the Friday-night derby at Barnsley.
- 6 Oct 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland U21, EFL Trophy (7pm)
- 10 Oct 2026 — Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday (3pm)
- 17 Oct 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v AFC Wimbledon (3pm)
- 20 Oct 2026 — Notts County v Sheffield Wednesday (7.45pm)
- 24 Oct 2026 — Doncaster Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday (3pm)
- 27 Oct 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v Cambridge United (rearranged, 7.45pm)
- 1 Nov 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v Blackpool (Sunday, kick-off TBC)
- 10 Nov 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v Accrington Stanley, EFL Trophy (7pm)
- 14 Nov 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle (3pm)
- 20 Nov 2026 — Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday (Friday, moved for TV, 8pm)
- 24 Nov 2026 — Stevenage v Sheffield Wednesday (rearranged, 7.45pm)
- 28 Nov 2026 — Sheffield Wednesday v Reading (3pm)
Sources: The Star, Sky Sports, Yorkshire Post, The Wednesday Word and the Owls Extra debate show.