Sheffield Wednesday head in to the new campaign with a lot to look forward to. The terraces are lined with optimism and for the first time in my relatively short life the feeling as we approach the new season is one of hope and a determination to push on instead of just looking to stay up. So here are my reasons for thinking The Owls have nothing to fear in the English second tier.
1. Form At The End Of Last Season
Wednesday ended last term in fine form, not losing in their last 14 games, winning 11 and drawing 3. This propelled them above local rivals United in to the second automatic promotion spot and left their neighbours fighting it out in the play offs. With 27 goals in this purple patch and only 7 conceded meant Dave Jones found the much sought after formulae of scoring goals while having a solid back line, couple this with 7 clean sheets and it becomes clear why they raced in to the Championship.
2. The Hillsborough Fortress
Whenever I visited Hillsborough from the early 00s to a couple of years ago, there always seemed to be an air of negativity, a sense that no one knew which Wednesday was going to turn up. One week the place would be rocking and the next it would be as flat as a pancake. Even when the faithful band cranked up The Great Escape the fans couldnt get riled up as the team performances never really merited a bouncing Kop. More times than not the game ended with disgruntled moans rather than cheers of adulation and standing ovations, but not last season. Former manager Gary Megson made Hillsborough a place away team feared coming, and got the fans back on side. With just 2 home defeats all season the crowd got right behind the team for one last push at the last match, with 38,000 Owls cheering their team over the finish line.