Bannan Urges Unity Amidst Wednesday Fan Protests
Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan has acknowledged the frustrations of the club’s supporters while emphasizing the team’s need for their backing. This comes after a recent home game against Coventry City saw fans staging a pitch invasion in the 10th minute, a protest organized by the ‘OwlsOnThePitch’ X account against owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Bannan addressed the situation in an interview with The Wednesday Week, recorded before the Coventry match. He stated that the players understand the fans’ reasons for protesting. “The fans pay good money… follow the club all over country,” Bannan said, acknowledging their right to protest. However, he stressed the importance of finding “the fine balance of letting it not affect the lads” and urged fans to continue supporting the team.
The captain also highlighted the stark contrast between Wednesday’s home and away form this season. He attributed the team’s improved away performances to the vocal support of travelling fans, which he believes “spur[s] you on that bit more.” In contrast, home games have been marred by protests and a quieter atmosphere.
Bannan admitted that the team may have been naive in expecting to dominate home games as they did last season. While the team has addressed this issue, he believes the unrest at Hillsborough has contributed to their poor home results.
Wednesday’s home form this season has been dismal, with just one point earned and a goal difference of -13. In contrast, their away form has been relatively strong, with five points from four games and a positive goal difference.
Interestingly, this pattern of poor home form is not new for Sheffield Wednesday. Last season, under Danny Rohl, their strong away form was offset by struggles at Hillsborough. However, during their “great escape” season and their League One promotion campaign, home form was a key factor in their success.
With protests expected to continue until Chansiri sells the club, the unrest at Hillsborough is likely to persist, potentially prolonging the team’s struggles at home. Bannan’s plea for unity underscores the delicate balance between fans’ right to protest and the team’s need for support on the pitch.
