Irvine wants upturn in form

Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine admits he wants to see his side return to winning ways before the opening game of the new season. The Owls went down 2-0 at Barnsley in their latest encounter and have now lost three and drawn one of their last four pre-season friendlies as they prepare for life in npower League One and a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge on August 7. Irvine said: "We dominated periods of the second half playing a high tempo game, but then they scored the second goal. "How many times have we seen teams lose some pre-season games and then win when the real ball comes out? And the other way round as well. "But of course I would much rather we were winning games than losing because I never like to lose any game of football."

Source: PA