Rumours of financial issues relating to FFP regulations dominated discussion going into the summer. Although at the time the club denied that it was under a transfer embargo no permanent signings were forthcoming over the close season for Jos Luhaky’s side.
Wednesday bid farewell to popular players Glenn Loovens and Ross Wallace - both released and Jack Hunt who was sold to Bristol City. Reserve goalkeeper Jake Kean and youngster Sean Clare both left, the latter after refusing a new contract offer. The most notable departure however was record signing Jordan Rhodes who left for Norwich City on a season long loan deal.
Pre season began with a lovely little Friday night trip to Lincoln City where they ran out of food and beer before the game kicked off, and the only goal of the game was scored by Fernando Forestieri.
After a behind closed doors tie with NAC Breda we then lost at Mansfield in a tie marred by accusations of racial abuse made against Forestieri, who was also sent off for a wreckless challenge that resulted in a 22 man brawl.
Our final friendly saw us take on Spanish side Villarreal. The visitors took the lead but a collectors item goal from Liam Palmer levelled. We succumbed to their greater quality second half but it had been a nice little warm up for the season.
4th Aug - Wigan 3-2 Owls
New day - new dawn? Not quite. Newly promoted Wigan tore into Wednesday who notably had senior player Keiren Westwood missing, fuelling rumours of a rift. The pace of the game appeared to take us by surprise as wave after wave of attack came at us We fell behind after 11 minutes but Nuhiu levelled against the run of play on 20. Wigan were soon ahead again, and stretched the lead in the second half with some questionable goalkeeping on display. Forestieri pulled a goal back but it wasn’t enough. Nuhiu also saw red late on for a second bookable offence.
28th Aug - Owls 0-2 Wolves
After a poor start we had just secured back to back wins before the visit of last seasons Championship winners Wolves in the EFL cup.
Despite being on holiday in Flamingo land the lad and I drove back to watch the game after we won tickets in the competition sponsors draw.
A scratch Wednesday side laboured and actually did ok at times, forgotten man David Jones had a pretty decent game in midfield. Sadly we succumbed to their greater quality and fitness with Adams Traore ripping us to pieces at will. Ah well, concentrate on the league.
Wednesday did eventually manage to complete some transfer activity with the deadline day loan deals for Tottenham midfielder Josh Onomah and Jamaican international defender Michael Hector. However Jos had tried to move the club in a more youthful direction with players such as Matt Penney, Ash Baker, Jordan Thorniley, Connor Kirby, Fraser Preston and all making first team contributions in the first months of the season.
15th Sept - Owls 2-2 Stoke
After picking up some form Wednesday found themselves two down after twenty two minutes against Stoke, with ex-Owls loanee Benik Afobe on target twice courtesy of some poor defending. Luckily Marco Matias pulled a goal back within a few minutes of the second goal, and we completed a comeback with Barry Bannan finding the back of the net with a free kick.
22nd Sept - Aston Villa 1-2 Owls
Wednesday made it consecutive wins at Villa Park. Marco Matias opened the scoring, before a stunning volley for our hosts equalised. We were the better side for long periods aside from a purple patch after they equalised. Steven Fletcher Knocked home a winner to cap a great day out!
3rd Oct - Owls 2-2 WBA
Facing West Brom at Hillsborough we put in really strong performance for 85 minutes. We were two up at half time through Reach and Forestieri however poor game management saw us surrender the victory in the last five minutes, which coincidently was around the time brought the inexperienced Connor Kirby on, when they had just introduced former England international Gareth Barry.
9th Nov - Blades 0-0 Owls
It’s fair to say despite being heavily criticised during the season we had Cameron Dawson to thank for a draw at Bramall Lane, particularly as he saved a penalty from ex-Wednesday loanee David McGoldrick. The game was pretty much a carbon copy of the previous seasons stalemate in the end. This game ended a four game losing run for the owls too!
22nd Dec - Owls 1-0 Preston
Lee Bullen took caretaker charge for a second time as Jos was given the boot after a run of one win in nine games. Jos’ sweary post match press confernace following defeat at Swansea was host last act as Wednesday manager. Bullen’s first act was to recall senior players Westwood and Hutchinson who had been ostracised by the Dutchman. The decision to sack the manager came after a bizarre fans forum outburst from the clubs owner where he publicly backed his manager, before announcing the club was for sale (he later retracted that comment).
Wednesday won the game one nil via a Michael Hector goal.
5th Jan - Owls 0-0 Luton
We faced League One leaders Luton in the FA Cup third round. Wednesday, now led by the two Steve’s, maybe he the best chances but we were constantly under pressure throughout.
27th Jan - Chelsea 3-0 Owls
We traveled south to face premier league big boys Chelsea in the cup after overcoming Luton in the replay.
The game was scheduled for a late Sunday kick off, which meant a day out in London!
Chelsea played a reserve team that was not short on quality or full internationals, and aside from our first dalliance with VAR we were well beaten.
The following day Steve Bruce became manager, stepping into the role after the club allowed his two assistants to take the team whilst he finished a sabbatical. He made his signings on deadline day with Dominic Iorfa joining from Wolves, whilst Achraf Lazaar and Rolando Aarons came on loan from Newcastle.
4th Mar - Owls 0-0 Blades
Our neighbours were riding high chasing promotion making us massive underdogs however in this even contest it was Wednesday who probably had the best chance, the born again Sam Hutchinson putting the best chance of the game straight at the goalkeeper.
9th Mar - Derby 1-1 Owls
It’s always a good day out at Derby and had it not been for a little bad luck we could have secured our first win there since 2006. Iorfa scored a second half equaliser and we wrongly had another goal rule out for something. A good away point against a side in the play offs.
30th Mar - Stoke 0-0 Owls
Can Steve do it on a cold day in Stoke? After losing Aarons to injury in the warm up we were surprised to see Gary Hooper back to fitness for the first time in forever!
Stoke were the better side but we held out for another good away point.
6th Apr - Owls 1-3 Aston Villa
Our form since Bruce has taken over the managerial reigns had seen results and performances improve, to the point there was a chance we could gate crash the play offs party. Just goes to show what can be done with a proper manager?
Sadly our play off hopes went with Barry Bannan’s hamstring in the second half of this tie with Bruce’s former club. Hooper gave us an early lead but poor defending from Liam Palmer allowed the ball to be cut back for McGinn to score.
Villa had all the momentum going into the tie and with us pushing for a winner we were hit with two quick counter attacks in added on time to leave us six points off the play offs. This was Bruce’s first defeat as Wednesday gaffer.
22nd Apr - Owls 2-0 Bristol City
We finished this Easter Monday fixture four points off the plays offs but looking unlikely to gate crash the party after a comfortable victory in the April sunshine.
Bannan and João with the goals to cap off an amazing day where my son was a mascot on my birthday.
27th Apr - Preston 3-3 Owls
Kept up my personal unbeaten run at Preston as we came back into this tie in the second half to earn a point. We were two goals down at half time but Barry Bannan halved the deficit on 49 minutes. Browne made it 3-1 sweeping home following a counter attacking move. The away fans stayed with the side and the atmosphere became electric when Forestieri and Nuhiu both scored within in two minutes of each other. Dom Iorfa received a red card for a strong challenge a few monutes later but that didn’t take the wind out of our sails as we pushed for a winner. Sadly we were unable to nick a fourth goal however Kieran Lee came off the bench for his first appearance of the season following some bad injuries.
5th May - Owls 1-2 QPR
The final game of the season saw defeat at home to QPR. In a forgettable clash Michael Hector scored a penalty in the second half, however with the Wednesday players clearly on the beach QPR snuck a 93rd minute winner that saw the side drop to 12th in the table.
Looking to the summer Bruce looked to be the manager who had the character and experience needed to finally elevate the club to the levels it aspired too. An actual real football manager that other clubs would recognise and not an ex-coach, promoted assistant or an unknown. Going into the summer if felt a case of clear the deadwood, retain Hector and add some pace and the club could really get going under Steve Bruce...
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