Sheffield Wednesday slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Swansea City on Sunday and Connor Wickham was one of many players who underperformed at the Liberty Stadium. The 27-year-old fired blanks in front of goal, didn’t create an opportunity for his teammates and gave away a number of fouls, so supporters unsurprisingly criticised him on social media.
https://twitter.com/Woody00486803/status/1279743653045567491?s=20
Wickham is having a ‘mare so far #swfc
— superjeans 🦉 (@superjeans) July 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/S35Kel/status/1279741281279922176?s=20
We created chances in the first half and Da Cruz looked threatening. As far as positives I’m afraid that’s it. Too many off the pace today. Wickham didn’t play well. Wildsmith’s kicking is awful. Felt like Borner caught out of position led to the first goal. #swfc
— Hugh Clements-Jewery (@hughseejay) July 5, 2020
#swfc
– the ref must have got a new whistle blowing it almost every time we got in their half seasons half.– why do we do stupid things in our own box?
– wickham doesn’t do enough for me.
– pen should have been retaken
— Owls (@owlsinofficial) July 5, 2020
Just an assessment from today. Wickham didn't have too much to go at in front of goal compared to the last few games.
Da Cruz offers more pace than Rhodes but he is a bit of an enigma. Can see there is something there but he just can't seem to produce it#SWFC— Added On Time (@added_on_time) July 5, 2020
Against Swansea, Wickham played for 90 minutes, had 33 touches, won four aerial duels, completed 46.2% of his 26 passes, had one shot which didn’t hit the target, attempted three long balls with 33% finding a teammate, gave away two fouls, had one dribble, failed to create a chance, won one free-kick and was dispossessed three times.
The £1m-rated striker was in good form prior to the Swansea defeat, scoring two goals in his first two league games back since football returned, but he’s now set for a third consecutive game without rippling the back of the net if he fires blanks against Preston North End on July 8.
Ahead of the midweek clash, Wednesday are 15th in the Championship with 52 points from 41 games, having won only one of their last six. Preston are five places and six points better off than the Owls, but they’ve only picked up two points from their last seven outings.
Wickham will hope to get back to scoring ways.