Sheffield Wednesday's FA Cup run ended at the first hurdle with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Oldham Athletic in the 1/128-finals on Sunday. A late winner from Oldham's Will Sutton sealed the cup exit for the League One side, who sit ninth in the table on 20 points from 13 games, with a record of five wins, five draws and three losses.
Calum Kavanagh gave the hosts the lead midway through the second half, finishing in the 66th minute. Davis Keillor-Dunn, who also scored in last week's league draw with Blackpool, equalised for Wednesday ten minutes later. The game went to extra time where Sutton struck the decisive blow in the 110th minute.
The match was a physical affair, with Sheffield Wednesday receiving four yellow cards. Di'Shon Bernard was booked after just seven minutes and Yan Valery followed in the first half. Callum Slattery and substitute Sean Fusire were also cautioned. Oldham's Michael Joseph Mellon was sent off late in normal time.
Sheffield Wednesday dominated possession with 71 percent of the ball but could not translate that into a winning goal. They registered 14 shots to Oldham's 13, with six on target. The team now sits ninth in League One with 20 points from 13 games, a run of form that includes just one win in their last five league outings. Their recent league form shows no wins, two draws and three losses from the last five matches, a sequence that leaves them nine points behind the leaders, Huddersfield. Across the season they have scored 22 goals and conceded 14. Jamal Lowe remains their top scorer this season with five goals in ten appearances.
Managerial changes were forced early when goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer was replaced by Connal Trueman in the 17th minute. A flurry of substitutions followed for both sides after the hour mark as the game opened up. Oldham manager Mellon made a triple change shortly after his team took the lead, while Sunday introduced attackers like Josh Windass and Michael Smith in search of a goal.
He acknowledged the need for immediate improvement with a busy schedule ahead.
Attention now turns immediately to the EFL Trophy. Sheffield Wednesday host Accrington Stanley at Hillsborough on Tuesday night, with kick-off at 7pm. Their next League One fixture is a home game against fifth-placed Plymouth Argyle next Saturday, 14 November.
New manager Dave Challinor, hired by the US consortium Arise, addressed the cup exit on Monday. Challinor said he saw nothing new in the 2-1 defeat at Oldham but outlined the scale of the task. "There's going to have to be some change," Challinor stated. He confirmed alignment with the ownership on a new style of play. The club, ninth in League One, has now gone five games without a win.
Manager Dave Challinor confirmed on Monday that Davis Keillor-Dunn's equaliser against Oldham was assisted by Sean Fusire. The club's verified data shows Keillor-Dunn has now scored in consecutive matches, having also netted against Blackpool last week. Sheffield Wednesday, ninth in League One with 20 points from 13 games, face Plymouth Argyle next.
On Tuesday, Oldham manager Micky Mellon confirmed the assist for Will Sutton's winner. Mellon stated that Mike Fondop-Talum provided the pass for Sutton's 110th-minute strike. The club's verified data shows the assist was Fondop-Talum's second of the season. Sheffield Wednesday, ninth in League One with 20 points from 13 games, have now lost three of their last five matches.
On Tuesday, Davis Keillor-Dunn reflected on his FA Cup goal against Oldham. The forward, who has scored in consecutive matches, stated the manager wants him in dangerous areas. "The gaffer has said we need you in positions where you're going to affect the game," Keillor-Dunn said. He acknowledged the team lacked a killer instinct on Sunday. Sheffield Wednesday, ninth in League One with 20 points, face Plymouth Argyle next.
On Tuesday, manager Dave Challinor revealed striker Mason Burstow will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Challinor said the loanee "tweaked a groin with the shot he had from the halfway line" against Blackpool. The forward missed the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Oldham. The club, ninth in League One with 20 points, faces Plymouth Argyle next.
