Sheffield Wednesday came up against one of the best teams in the country in the FA Cup this week, but Garry Monk used the occasion to experiment with some of his fringe players.
Youngster Alex Hunt got his chance to shine after coming on at half-time while Joe Wildsmith got a rare chance to start between the posts, and he made the most of his first appearance of the season.
He managed to keep Manchester City at bay for large parts, with the visitors having nine shots on target and pressuring the Owls’ backline throughout with an impressive 80% possession.
Wildsmith could have done better with the only goal of the match, though, as Sergio Aguero’s shot spiralled into the net despite the keeper making an initial block.
Despite that, fans have been full of praise for the 24-year-old with several plaudits being made about his performance.
Conceding just once against the English champions is a huge improvement for South Yorkshire outfit, who had conceded 10 goals in the five matches leading up to the visit of the Citizens.
Cameron Dawson featured in each of those matches and that means Garry Monk has a decision to make, whether to revert back to Dawson or stick with Wildsmith over the forthcoming matches.
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It would be a little harsh to drop the shot-stopper after Wednesday’s display and many supporters agree with that view, calling on the Owls’ boss to start the academy product from now on.
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Meanwhile, Owls’ fans have been reacting to another player who put in an impressive performance against City and caught the limelight for one big reason…