- Under-21s start with Palace win
- Bullen pleased but urges more focus
- Wildsmith ensures Wednesday triumph
Lee Bullen was pleased with the result if not the overall performance of the Owls’ Under-21s opening day win over Crystal Palace.
Wednesday triumphed by the odd goal in three against the Premier League Eagles on Wednesday afternoon as both sides kicked off their 2014/15 league campaigns.
Rhys McCabe and Manny Dieseruvwe were on target for the hosts.
Bullen told swfc.co.uk: “It’s always pleasing to start with a win, especially on the first day of the season, but I can’t say I am happy with the all-round performance.
“We started off really well and did all the right things and scored a minute or two before half time.
“We then score again to go into a two-goal lead but from that point we stopped doing the right things and allowed Palace back into the game.
“Joe Wildsmith made a fabulous save right at the end and if it wasn’t for that, we’d be talking about one point instead of all three.”
Bullen went on to urge the Wednesday youngsters to keep their focus and consistency if they are to knock on the door of the first team or forge a loan move as a stepping stone elsewhere.
He said: “The opportunities are there for the players to take hold of and I’ve just given them a rollicking because they have switched off.
“Maybe I expect too much as a coach but I don’t want to see these opportunities slip through their fingers.
“They have to be impressing Stuart Gray if they want to show they are capable of breaking into the first team and they have to do it consistently.
“And you never know who might be watching these games as well. It could be a scout, it could be another manager, and these performances could be the difference between perhaps a loan move or not.
“It’s all about progression at the end of the day and while I will always take any win, I will also look at the factors around it.”