Sheffield Wednesday suffered their first pre-season defeat this evening when they were beaten 3-1 in Portugal by Primeira Liga side S.C. Braga.
The Owls fielded a strong line up for their first game during a week long training camp in Portugal but Dave Jones was without the services of a number of first team players including Michail Antonio, Lewis Buxton and Reda Johnson.
Wednesday's starting 11 included 2 new trialists – Kamil Zayatte and Markus Grossinger but it was an old head who gave them the lead on 20 minutes when Martin Taylor scored.
It looked like that would be enough to take the Owls into the break with a lead but Braga struck twice in the final two minutes of the first half to take the initiative with Jones particularly unhappy about an unpunished offence in the build up to the 2nd goal.
Both sides made a host of changes on the second half and it was Braga who looked the more composed, their recent signing Pedro clinching the victory with a third goal for his side 15 minutes from time.
A defeat to a team that finished 4th in the Portuguese top flight, beat Galatasaray and ran Manchester United close in the Champions League group stage last season is certainly no disgrace and it will have given the coaching staff a good idea of what needs to be addressed before the start of the Championship season in August.
The few friendlies that the Owls have played so far has highlighted the fact that the team needs a proven goal scorer, something that both the manager and the chairman have stated they are intent on bringing to the club over the course of the summer.
Next up for Wednesday is another friendly in Portugal, this time against Premier League new boys Hull City on Saturday. The squad will then return to England for two more warm up games ahead of the big kick-off at QPR on August 3rd.
Source: Owls-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
