The spotlight falls on the Owls in bwfc.co.uk's penultimate preview ahead of the new campaign
Sheffield Wednesday
Home ground: Hillsborough
Capacity: 39,732
Head coach: Carlos Carvalhal
2014/15 league position: 13th
2014/15 top goalscorer: Atdhe Nuhiu (11 in all competitions)
Entering their third consecutive year in England’s second tier at the start of the 2014/15 campaign, Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed a solid if not spectacular season last term.
Eventually going on to record a respectable 13th place finish in the Sky Bet Championship league standings – an improvement on the previous year’s 16th place – the Owls' lack of consistency in terms of results ultimately proved their Achilles heel come the season’s conclusion.
Having won four, drawn three and lost just one of their opening eight fixtures, Wednesday endured a winless spell spanning ten games between late September and early November, leaving them chasing the pack during the remainder of the campaign.
Picking up form around the festive period, a three-match unbeaten run was brought to an end by Wanderers in January as the Whites ran out 2-1 winners at Hillsborough, with Stuart Gray’s side struggling to string positive results together from thereon in.
Also forced to pit their wits against Premier League giants Manchester City in both cup competitions – losing 7-0 and 2-1 at the Etihad in the Capital One Cup and FA Cup respectively – the Owls certainly brought the Sheffield Wednesday name back to the big stage, albeit not in the way they would have perhaps liked.
Bringing the curtain down on their domestic exploits with a 1-1 draw away at promoted Watford on May 2, the end of the season saw the departure of Gray from the Wednesday hotseat after 18 months in permanent charge at the club.
The Hillsborough outfit moved quickly to replace him, with experienced coach Carlos Carvalhal agreeing terms with the club in early July.
The former Besiktas and Braga coach wasted no time in making his mark on the team, with Darryl Lachman, Lewis Price, Ross Wallace, Lewis McGugan and the highly rated Marco Matias having linked up with Wednesday this summer.
No doubt eager to improve once again on their final league standing come May next year, the Owls’ faithful will be hoping that Carvalhal’s continental pedigree can bring success to Hillsborough this term.
FIXTURES V BOLTON IN 2015/16
Tuesday 15 September 2015 – 7.45pm kick-off at Macron Stadium
Tuesday 12 January 2016 – 7.45pm kick-off at Hillsborough
RESULTS V BOLTON IN 2014/15
Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday – 13/9/2014 (CLICK HERE for highlights)
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Bolton Wanderers – 17/1/2015 (CLICK HERE for highlights)