Sheffield Wednesday secured their first league win of the season on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 triumph over Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The Owls were inspired by captain Barry Bannan, who produced a stunning free-kick to break the deadlock.
From 25 yards out, Bannan unleashed a superb strike that left Pompey goalkeeper Ben Killip with no chance. The goal was his second of the campaign and his 37th in a Sheffield Wednesday shirt.
George Brown Seals the Win
In the second half, young forward George Brown doubled Wednesday’s advantage with a clinical finish, ensuring Henrik Pedersen’s side claimed all three points. After the match, Bannan congratulated Brown with a touching gesture as he left the pitch, highlighting his role not only as a match-winner but also as a leader and mentor.
Pedersen Full of Praise for His Captain
Speaking to Sheffield Wednesday’s official media after the game, Owls boss Henrik Pedersen praised Bannan’s captain’s display, both in performance and leadership. The Wednesday boss also revealed the reason behind his side's win.
“I think he was a great captain today, one thing is what he does through his actions, how he plays, winning balls, but the other thing is how he supports his players.
He was great, but today, our best player was the team. How they worked together and the discipline for the game plan, we played a little more direct than we had in the other games, but the clarity today was amazing for the boys.
You can do a lot if you do it with heart and the boys played with heart today. They have tried everything and today is a well-deserved win.
What do you need to win a game in the Championship? You need to go all out, with heart and do all what you can – that’s what the boys did today, they really deserved it.”
Bannan’s free-kick and all-round leadership proved decisive, but Pedersen emphasized that Sheffield Wednesday’s first victory of the season was built on teamwork, discipline, and determination. With the first win secured, the Owls will now look to build momentum in their Championship campaign.
