EFL round-up: Sheff Weds downed by Bradford; Jamie Vardy return talk gathers pace
Sports News Blitz loves the English Football League - and our expert Rob Beezley provides some of the stories hogging the headlines outside of the Premier League.
Sheffield Wednesday suffered defeat on Thursday evening at Hillsborough as they went down 1-0 to an Aden Baldwin winner, with the defender volleying in the only goal of the game for Bradford City.
Matt Pennington flicked on an Ibou Touray corner before Baldwin smashed the ball home.
Wednesday were not good enough for much of the game and looked like a side struggling to gel, despite having Barry Bannan pulling the strings in midfield.
The Owls signed Kieran Morrison on loan from Liverpool on Thursday.
Henrik Pedersen’s side also appear to be close to signing former Rotherham United defender Reece James as competition for current left-back Max Lowe.
Rumours of Vardy return
Rumours of a return for former Owl Jamie Vardy also refuse to go away.
Pedersen’s side were victorious in their opening League One game, beating Leyton Orient 2-1 with goals from Callum Slattery and Jamal Lowe.
The Dane admitted his side weren’t good enough in the second half against Bradford but credited his side's first-half performance.
Speaking to the Sheffield Star, he praised the first half, saying: “This aggressive mindset, forward mindset, our pressing, with front-foot defending, we played forward when we won the ball, and when we were on the ball we had much more speed.
“We played less long balls and had more forwarded passes where we bypassed the opponent and speed up the game. When we lost the ball we won it again.”
Not at the same level
Pedersen was unhappy with the second-half showing, though, adding: “In the second half we went we also had phases where we saw this, but not at the same level.
“So [the] second half was not good enough after a strong first half.
“Why were we good in the first half? Because we could match them on the basic things for the long ball, for the second ball, for the running, for the duels, for all those.
“And this is where the second half also has to start, because we know it's so structured.
“The team (Bradford) is a good team, a strong team. They know everyone what they have to do. They have played together for a long time.”
The Dane concluded: “For me, it's more the learning that we are coming 1-0 down, and then we lose a little bit of confidence.
“And after 1-0 down in Hillsborough, we should speed up and be more front-footed. That we want to attack more than before, but yeah, we have to learn more about this in the team.”
Up next for the Owls is a home double-header as they face Wolves in the EFL Cup in midweek, before hosting League One new boys Bromley next weekend, as Sheffield Wednesday look to bounce back to winning ways.
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