Sheffield Wednesday supporters were left to reflect on another woeful result for Wednesday on Saturday as Huddersfield left Hillsborough with a deserved 2-1 victory which if anything, slightly flattered the home side who were well beaten.
Following the result Owls manager Dave Jones was quoted on the official club website at stating the regular 1st choice goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was dropped to the bench because “we hadn't kept a clean sheet and I don't think he was playing to the standards he sets himself.”
Kirkland was replaced in goal by young on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Damian Martinez and to be fair to the Argentinian he wasn't at fault for either of the Huddersfield goals and produced a competent display on his Owls debut.
However, Jones' statement that Kirkland's form warranted him losing his place will bemuse the majority of fans that have watched the Owls on a regular basis this season. Whilst it may be factually correct that the team are yet to keep a clean sheet this season the truth behind this statistic is that even legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin would have his work cut out stopping the opposition with the lack of support from his team in front of him.
Wednesday have plenty of midfield and defensive frailties but in Kirkland they have a keeper who has performed to a consistently high level since joining the club just over a year ago and he has been recognised by the supporters as one of the few players to have played well this season despite the miserable start to the campaign.
The pressure is mounting on Jones as the Owls stay rooted within the bottom 3 in the Championship and comments of this nature are unlikely to appease the disgruntled fan base.
Source: Owls-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
