Sheffield Wednesday appear to be suffering a play-off final hangover after a stuttering start to the new season.
The Owls, beaten 1-0 by Hull in “the richest game in football” at Wembley in May, began the new campaign with a 1-0 victory over relegated Aston Villa.
But they have failed to win any of their following four games – the first of which was a 2-1 first round EFL Cup defeat after extra-time at League Two side Cambridge.
That was followed by a goalless draw at another relegated side in Norwich, but then two defeats – 3-1 at promoted Burton and 2-0 at home to Yorkshire rivals Leeds.
Wednesday have not been helped by the refusal of star striker Fernando Forestieri to play in the match at Carrow Road.
The former Italy Under-21 international refused to board the team coach travelling to East Anglia, but the following week issued an apology to his team-mates, manager Carlos Carvalhal and the club’s fans – saying his behaviour had been “unprofessional and unacceptable”.
Bees fans are only too aware of the impact of players ‘going on strike’, following James Tarkowski’s decision to make himself unavailable for last season’s home game with Burnley.
The centre-half also later explained his reasons in an apology to supporters, his team-mates and Dean Smith.
However while Tarkowski ultimately left Griffin Park, Owls fan James from the Wednesday Week podcast told this week’s Beesotted podcast that Forestieri’s actions appear to have been motivated more by the terms of the striker’s contract than a desire to leave Hillsborough.
Forestieri was top scorer for the Owls last season, when Wednesday came closer to regaining their Premier League status than at any time since being relegated from the top flight in 2000.
Since then they have been regular members of the Championship, apart from two spells of two seasons in League One, but had not ended up higher than ninth before last term’s sixth place finish.
How will Wednesday do this season? We asked Owls Online’s Terry Hibberd before the first ball was kicked
Some would say there is only promotion is the only option but while it is the target, I don’t think its promotion or bust. But we do hope for a top six finish again at the very least.
WHO’S IN CHARGE
Carlos Carvalhal managed 14 different teams in three countries before arriving at Hillsborough in the summer of 2015.
The 49-year-old has mostly worked in his home country of Portugal but has also been in charge in Greece and Turkey, with Besiktas the most well-known of his clubs.
He was a central defender in his playing days and won nine caps for the Portugal Under-21 side.
Before taking the Wednesday job, he had been out of the manager’s hotseat for nearly three years.
Former Brentford and Sheffield Wednesday favourite
He talks about his favourite Bees moments, winding up Warren Aspinall and Lloyd’s famous sporting family, starting 42 minutes into the podcast.
LAST SEASON’S MEETINGS
Sheffield Wednesday did the double over us last season – with an early season 2-1 win at Griffin Park being followed by a 4-0 hammering at Hillsborough.
We failed to score against them the previous season, following a goalless draw in TW8 – on a night which marked the Bees’ 125th anniversary – with a 1-0 defeat in Yorkshire.
Before that, our previous meetings came in League One in 2011/12 when Wednesday took four points with a 0-0 Hillsborough draw and 2-1 win at Griffin Park.
Our last wins over them came in 2010/11 when we did the double – with 1-0 and 3-1 wins.
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US
BBC Radio Sheffield’s Rob Staton takes time out to give us his memories of previous trips to Griffin Park.
Q What will it take for Wednesday to go one step further than last season this time around?
A They struggled, surprisingly, against some of the poorer teams in the Championship last season. They also failed to beat any of the top six until they defeated Brighton in the first leg of the play-offs. They’ve already lost to Burton and Leeds. Better results in games like this along with taking points from potential promotion rivals is the key.
Q What memories do you have – good or bad – of previous trips to Brentford to see Wednesday either for work or as a fan?
A I think most people who’ve covered Wednesday over the years will remember the play-off victory at Griffin Park 11 years ago. That Wednesday team included a good group of characters. Lee Bullen, the captain of that team, is now the club’s assistant boss and is a big fan favourite at Hillsborough.
Q Have you had any amusing or unusual experiences at previous Bees-Owls games – and if so, what happened?
A One time when leaving the general area of the stadium a Brentford fan came and banged on our car window and shouted a few obscenities. I remember looking at the expert summariser and wondering whether he was going to break through the glass at one point. That was, errr, fun.
Q Which Bees players will you be most wary of?
A Probably Sawyers. He and Tom Bradshaw always stood out when I watched them at Walsall. If he was fit of course Alan Judge. Wednesday tried to sign him in January but were put off by the asking price.
Q Who should Bees fans look out for particularly on the Wednesday side – any of the new signings or people from last season’s team?
A The answer would’ve been without doubt Fernando Forestieri before his recent rift with the club. He needs to get back on form now that it’s seemingly been put to bed. He missed a couple of good chances against Leeds.
Wednesday do have a collection of very good players for the Championship. Barry Bannan is the creative edge, Kieran Lee a goal threat from midfield, Steven Fletcher and Gary Hooper have a pedigree up front and new signing Almen Abdi will prove to be a good investment when he settles into the team.
TEAM NEWS
Sheffield Wednesday have had a busy summer in the transfer market – bringing in a load of experienced players, who could figure today.
Last week’s starting line-up against Leeds featured three of them in midfielder Almen Abdi and left-back Daniel Pudil, both from Watford, and Scotland international striker Steven Fletcher from Sunderland.
Winger Will Buckley followed Fletcher from the Stadium of Light to the Owls, only in his case on a season-long loan, and may make his first league start at Griffin Park.
He could be the only change to a line-up which played a 4-4-2 formation against Leeds.
Kieren Westwood was in goal with Jack Hunt the other full-back opposite Pudil and Tom Lees and Sam Hutchinson the central defenders.Kieran Lee, Barry Bannan, Ross Wallace and Abdi filled the midfield with Fletcher and Forestieri up front.
The substitutes brought on were Buckley, another new signing in midfielder David Jones, from Burnley, and last season’s second top scorer Gary Hooper.
IAN WESTBROOK
@ianwestbrook
PUBS IN BRENTFORD
For Wednesday fans coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match and all are most welcoming.
There are now only three pubs around the ground, following the closure of the Royal Oak.
The Griffin is closest to the away end (like 30 secs walk) and is very popular with away fans – but also very, very busy. The New Inn is on the other side and is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal is the other option.
Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) …. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is the Beesotted pre-match pub. This boozer & The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) are both incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs and about 1 min walk from each other .. frequented by ‘away fans in the know’. The Plough (Northfields Ave) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields (it’s a much better pub crawl route getting off at Northfields than South Ealing) before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route).
There is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … the Pub by Brentford station.
For ale head to the Magpie and Crown pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. And if you are super adventurous, get off at Kew Bridge and visit the brand new boozer One Over the Ait right on the river – beside the bridge. There are loads more too.
A quick Google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have a look around.
Parking is pretty easy away from the ground going up towards and over the A4 Great West Rd (ie. North) via Ealing Road or Windmill Road.