The ACN Match Review 24/25 – Sheffield Wednesday (h)

How did we play?

After a couple of uninspiring recent home displays, this was shaping up to be the “get right” game. Two incisive moves putting us 2-0 up at half-time with no saves for Vicente Reyes to make at the other end.
The second half, however, can only be described as the true nadir of the season and a microcosm of all our shortcomings. A capitulation so unprofessional it threatens to undermine all the messaging surrounding transition and work-in-progress, and my own previous articles encouraging patience and tolerance in that regard.

What was the best bit about the day?

Our two goals were very well worked. The front three, without Sargent, looked slick for 45 minutes. In possession, there are very few concerns that Thorup’s Norwich can create and score with regularity at this level.

But none of that matters when all footballing fundamentals are absent from the other half of the game – the out-of-possession half.

What was the worst bit about the day?

Coming to the realisation that the season probably is, in fact, “over” – an idea which I’ve pushed back on in recent weeks.

Those recently writing it off as such have been doing so from a purely playoff-chasing perspective. Even if you didn’t subscribe to the idea of judging progress on league positions, it’s difficult not to conclude that there is now nothing left to be learned about this squad and this coaching staff until next season.

This team is a glass cannon. They can score plenty but they do need plenty to win games, as the slightest ounce of pressure on their goal usually results in a concession of the cheapest kind. The bad habits have been ever-present this season, even in games we have gone on to win comfortably, with so many poor sides being granted stays of execution by our own self-sabotaging.

Whichever camp you were in – regarding this season’s main objectives – you’re now yearning for the summer window and these remaining nine fixtures are in the way. That’s a sad place to be in.

What was the atmosphere like?

Flat and resigned to what was unfolding, even before Wednesday scored their first. We could all see the hallmarks of game mismanagement creeping into proceedings yet no one who’s paid to actually dictate the flow and course of games could. Full-time boos were therefore merited.

Hero of the match

None of them. They’re not all young and/or new to English football either – not that that forgives such extreme complacency, or lack of footballing IQ, or mental flimsiness or whatever you put that display down to. Not one rallied or rollicked the troops. In fact, it looked like a few hid in those closing stages.

Summary in Five Words

Writing this has been cathartic.