REACH FOR THE STARS
Two-goal Adam says that, with Bruce in charge, there are no limits for Wednesday
Adam Reach says Steve Bruce’s personal touch has been key to Sheffield Wednesday’s transformation.
Reach scored twice – with Steven Fletcher (right) getting the third – as Bruce enjoyed his first home win as
Owls boss.
Victory extended Wednesday’s unbeaten league run under Bruce to five games – and six overall – and they are unrecognisable from the disjointed side under Jos Luhukay.
Reach explained the Bruce effect, saying: “He has had his success at different clubs because he is a fantastic man-manager. He knows how to get the best out of every player.
“He has really got us going back to basics: run hard, fight, work as hard as you can and, when you do that collectively, the quality should come through in the end.
“He’s distilled a new life and a new energy, and got everyone believing how good we are again. I think you can see that with the football we are playing at times, and he has got that feel-good factor back.”
Wednesday moved to 15th, nine points off the play-offs, with Reach (scoring the Owls’ first goal, above) not ruling out a top-six push.
“We are all playing it down but you can’t avoid the league table,” he said. “We are in the mindset that you take each game as it comes and win that. Then you move on, and we are doing that at the minute.
“We are in a no-lose situation – we are nowhere near the playoffs, no one is expecting anything.”
Wednesday host Brentford tomorrow, before high-flying neighbours United visit in a crucial Sheffield derby next Monday. Reach added: “United are right up there, but the squad we have, and the way we are playing at the minute, we shouldn’t fear anyone.
“Of course, there is an extra little spice, with it being the derby, and I think all the Wednesday fans will be hoping we can dent United’s promotion push.
“It will be a tough game on Tuesday and, if we can come through it, we can enjoy the build-up to the derby.” Swansea were dominated by Wednesday in the first half before pulling one back through Oli Mcburnie. Wayne Routledge called on the Swans to get back on track against Bolton on Saturday.
“This is not an easy place to come and it’s new to a lot of the boys,” he said. “But we need a better performance and result next week.”