Folly injury adds to Owls early season woes

Wednesday failed to beat Luton in their opening home game of the season in front on a disappointing crowd of just over 22,000, the lowest first game attendance for a league game since 2001/02. The air of pessimism amongst many fans before the season is perhaps justified as the Owls still have only one fit striker at the club and after 180 minutes of Championship football without scoring it shows. Add to that Lee Bullen's pending three match suspension and the fact that their man of the match in this game, Yoann Folly, was stretchered off with a knee injury it's all adding up to an early season crisis for Paul Sturrock.

The Owls had actually played well with no reward in their evening game with the Hatters with several chances falling to lone striker Steve MacLean. Sturrock kept with his 4-4-1-1 formation with MacLean as a lone striker and his back-up in Kenny Lunt playing just behind him. With no goals in their opening pair of games the big Scot may want to re-think his tactics.

Luton's goal came against the run of play right on half-time, a killer blow for the home side. Lewis Emanuel's low driven shot skidded off the surface and went in past loan-keeper Brad Jones via the leg of Frankie Simek.

Sturrock will be without his star midfield man Folly for this weekend's clash with Burnley, who have won two from two, and may have to call on academy midfielder Sean McAllister.

Sturrock verdict: "I'm gutted for the players. I'm proud of their attitude; the spirit was there to see. We had 30 crosses and 20 shots in the game but didn't hit the target often enough with headers and half-chances. To come out of the game with nothing is a huge disappointment to everybody." "Fans after 90 minutes can vent their frustrations but tonight I think they were vented on somebody else. They appreciated the players gave everything they got. The last [appeal] looked a penalty from where I was. He's decided not to give it so hopefully we'll get one the next time." "We've got a home game on Saturday and it's an opportunity to get all three points."