Sheffield Wednesday's fans left Hillsborough divided on Saturday, and that split captures this early part of the season perfectly. One camp saw a drab, goalless draw against Stockport County and felt entirely justified in their frustration. The other demanded perspective. Both, it turns out, have a point.

Stockport controlled the first half

Stockport were the better side in the opening 45 minutes. They out-shot Wednesday 18 to 6 over the 90, comfortably controlled long stretches of the game, and could plausibly have been ahead at the break had they been more ruthless in front of goal. The boos that rang around Hillsborough were understandable.

The second half settled into a more even tactical battle, but Wednesday never genuinely looked like winning it. A 32,290 crowd packed into Hillsborough expects to be given something to cheer, and on this evidence the attacking system is not yet functioning.

The wide positions are the core problem

Davis Keillor-Dunn on the right is an ill-fit. His record at Barnsley and Mansfield marks him as a goalscorer, someone who thrives inside the box. Asking him to operate as a wide player, even one encouraged to cut narrow, does not suit his strengths. Jamal Lowe has filled in competently out wide, but he is not a natural winger either.

When Harry Gray came on he gave Wednesday a visible lift. Kieran Morrison offers genuine width too. The question manager Henrik Pedersen has to answer is whether those two youngsters should simply be starting, because right now they are his best wide options.

In the middle, the partnership of Barry Bannan and Billy Mitchell has not yet clicked. Callum Slattery has shown flashes but can look caught between roles. The consequence is a striker who too often finds himself isolated and anonymous, and a team that cannot create enough.

Pedersen was candid after the match about what the issues were. Yet the fans' follow-up question is the obvious one: where were the solutions during the game? A post-match reference comparing Stockport's shape to that of Paris Saint-Germain did not help the mood, given the context.

The broader picture is still encouraging

Strip back the frustration and the platform Wednesday have built is genuinely solid. They sit second in the League One table. Only leaders Bradford City have conceded fewer goals, and that defensive record has held despite injuries at the back. The squad is heavily reliant on loan players, to the point where one must be left out of the matchday squad each week, yet they are still functioning at the top of the division.

Louie Barry has not featured yet. When he returns, he will bring goals, width and a different energy to attacks that currently lack all three. Wednesday also possess individual quality that most clubs in the third tier would welcome.

There was a reminder of the club's history and its renewed sense of identity on Saturday too, with Howard Wilkinson awarded a lifetime presidency alongside Lord Blunkett and Clive Betts MP. Hillsborough feels alive again. That matters, even if it does not score goals.

Decisions Pedersen cannot delay

The doubts surrounding the head coach will persist until he either secures promotion or departs. That is simply the reality of managing a club of Wednesday's size in this division. The rebuild is enormous, and it is still early days. But certain tactical calls are becoming harder to avoid.

  • Should Keillor-Dunn be used as a number ten rather than out wide?
  • Is it time to rest Bannan for selected fixtures rather than playing him every game?
  • Should Gray and Morrison be trusted from the start, given they are currently the best wide options available?

Wednesday are well placed. Second in League One after four home league games, three of which ended without a goal, suggests the ceiling is considerably higher than what has been shown so far. Pedersen knows what the problems are. The job now is to fix them before a great platform becomes a missed opportunity.

Frequently asked

Why did Sheffield Wednesday draw with Stockport County?
Wednesday struggled to create chances, were out-shot 6-18, and their wide players failed to provide enough attacking threat. Stockport controlled large parts of the game, particularly in the first half.
Where are Sheffield Wednesday in the League One table?
Wednesday are second in League One as of late September 2026, and have conceded fewer goals than any side except leaders Bradford City.
What are the main tactical problems for Henrik Pedersen at Sheffield Wednesday?
The wide positions are the biggest concern. Davis Keillor-Dunn does not suit a wide role, the Bannan-Mitchell midfield partnership has not clicked, and the central striker is too often isolated. Young options Harry Gray and Kieran Morrison have shown promise when introduced from the bench.