Jones calls for Owls 
to fight way out 
of trouble

Six straight defeats have seen promoted Wednesday slump to fourth-bottom in the Championship and shatter pre-season optimism.

It has stunned manager Jones, whose previous worst losing run was at Wolverhampton in 2004 when he chalked up four defeats to the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.

Now after six successive defeats last month, what Jones describes as “an horrendous September”, he is hoping to end that run with tonight’s trip to Turf Moor and Burnley in the Championship.

Jones reveals he has been hurt by Wednesday’s slump but insists his revamped Owls side are not far away from turning things round at Hillsborough.

“You make your own pressure,” he said. “I have not been in this situation before. I don’t like the situation, I am sure the players don’t and I’m positive the fans don’t. I know the chairman doesn’t.

“I think you just have to step back sometimes and take a look. I think the biggest mistake you can sometimes make is chop and change.

“Everything just seems to be conspiring against us at the moment. Everything went well for them last year, they had their bad spell before I came, and then worked their way out of it. That’s what they have to do now.

“I am not saying League One was easy, but it was a lot easier than the Championship.

“We are so early into the season. Are we concerned? Of course we are. But it’s no good having a go at them, we just have to stick together.

“We have just played two teams (Bolton and Wolves) who, six months ago, were two divisions apart and probably triple the wage bill.

“I have never gone this long (losing streak) game-wise, so it’s all new to everybody. It might have been three or four before (at Wolves in the Premier League).

“It’s hard because I feel for the players but you can’t feel sorry for them all the time because we are making the mistakes there’s no doubt about that. Basic errors in defending.

“We just have to stick in there, fighting and scrapping, and ensure that we don’t lose all the good things.

“I don’t remember being at this end (relegation zone) and I don’t like it. I am normally at the other end and that’s where it might be a learning curve for me as well.

“If I am winning 19-odd games, why would I change now? Of course you change because of the quality of players you have around you, but we are all in this together. We need to stick together, nobody means to go out and lose a football match.”

Wednesday started the season well, winning four and drawing one of their opening five games, but their losing run has coincided with a spate of defensive injuries.

The Owls will give fitness tests today to Lewis Buxton, Kieran Lee and Rhys McCabe but Reda Johnson and Chris Lines are still out.

The loss of left-back Johnson with a bruised foot has been a big blow and Jones admitted they were struggling to get him fit.

“Reda has been in an oxygen tent to try and relieve the pain so he can run and play on it,” he said.

“We have had injuries to both full-back positions and it has not helped. We have had injuries all along the back, it’s difficult to get a settled team at the moment.

“I think, hopefully, we can now get some continuity with people playing a few games, rather than chop and change due to injuries.

“It’s a very fine line in the games (between winning and losing). We look at them and think we should have got something from Palace, and didn’t, definitely should have got something from Huddersfield, Bolton and even on Saturday. The one where we didn’t defend at all on any of the goals was Brighton.

“We are not that far away, we just need a break, and the only way you get that break is by working hard, keep believing and keep going on.”

With Buxton and Lee sidelined, Jones was forced to switch winger Jermaine Johnson to full-back at Wolves.

“JJ is happy to play anywhere and that’s what you want to hear,” he said. “I thought he played really well and didn’t let anybody down.”

Last time: Burnley 2 Sheffield Wednesday 4, Championship, February 28 2009.

Referee: D Coote (Notts).

Last six games: Burnley LWLWLD Sheffield Wednesday LLLLLL.