Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
OWLS ANSWER MONK’S PRAYER
Fletch and Winnall’s derby delight
GARRY MONK won the battle of the new bosses to leave Wednesday dreaming of the top and Huddersfield dreading the drop.
Monk was victorious in his first game in charge and feels the Owls can challenge for promotion.
Steven Fletcher and Sam Winnall scored to condemn Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley to defeat in his opening game, and they remain next to bottom with just one point.
Monk (below) has challenged his players to get back to the levels they attained when they reached the playoffs in 2016 and 2017.
“The nucleus of this squad has been together for a few years and they had a fantastic time three or four years ago when they got very close to getting to the Premier League,” said Monk.
“Maybe in the last two years they have not reached those levels and it’s about them understanding that when people want to doubt you, then you need to show personality and belief.
“We know what we’re capable of and we’re a big club. The expectation will always be to push for promotion back to the Premier League, but other clubs think that too.”
Huddersfield’s winless league run is now 17 games and Cowley says he is relishing trying to stop them sliding straight through to League One.
“I think we learned a lot,” said Cowley, who has been working 14hour days since he took over a week ago with brother Nicky. “I think we found a club which is hurting and a team which is hurting.
“I want to be excited when I wake up in the morning and have that feeling when your back is to the wall and you’re in adversity, because that brings the best out of me and Nicky.”
Both managers made two changes and Monk pushed the classy Adam Reach up front with Fletcher to give him more support.
Monk’s tweaks brought Wednesday the opening goal in the 10th minute when Fletcher headed home to crown a 16-pass move.
Kadeem Harris skinned Florent Hadergjonaj to cross for Fletcher to get between defenders Christopher Schindler and Tommy Elphick and head home his fourth goal of the season from six yards out.
Huddersfield responded, but it says it all about their toothless attack that Terence Kongolo, restored to leftback, had three of their best chances.
Wednesday, who were happy to let the home side have the ball, comfortably dealt with what little the Terriers could muster and always looked more dangerous.
Reach went close a few times, and on 72 minutes Winnall scored his first Wednesday goal since August 2017 with a glancing header from Barry Bannan’s cross.