Wigan Athletic's tactical plan to man-mark Barry Bannan provided Sheffield Wednesday with a useful lesson for the rest of their season. The Latics executed manager Gary Caldwell's instructions to stifle the Owls' captain in last weekend's goalless draw at Hillsborough.
Henrik Pedersen, the Sheffield Wednesday manager, acknowledged his team must improve when opponents target their 36-year-old Scottish playmaker. "We have spoken before when teams are going very close to Barry, and this is something we have to be better at," Pedersen said. He added that the experience against Wigan would help his squad adapt.
Wigan's disciplined approach limited Bannan to one of his quieter matches in over a decade with the club. The result, a 0-0 draw on September 12, extended a difficult start to the League One campaign for Caldwell's side. Wigan Athletic currently sit 23rd in the table with just four points from their opening six games.
Pedersen stressed Bannan's continued importance despite the focused attention from opponents. "Barry has been a strong force and he's a very important player for us," the manager stated. With a busy schedule of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday games, Pedersen confirmed a natural rotation policy involving his squad's six under-21 players and six loanees, with Bannan included in that planned rotation.
The Latics now turn their focus to a key home fixture against Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday. Wycombe sit 20th in the league, making it a significant opportunity for Wigan to climb the standings. Caldwell will hope his side can build on the defensive solidity shown against Wednesday, having conceded 11 goals in the league so far. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page.
Sheffield Wednesday, who are nine points clear at the top of League One, host Stockport County this weekend. They will aim to apply the lessons learned from Wigan's defensive strategy. For Wigan, the priority is converting a hard-earned point into three against Wycombe as they seek to move away from the relegation zone.
Read the full report at thestar.co.uk
