With the dust now settled on the Owls’ best season in 16, we relive the best bits in pictures…
A rare shot of Carvalhal, pre-Duffle coat, ahead of Wednesday’s first away game – a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town. Despite having beaten Bristol City at Hillsborough a week earlier, August did not go quite as planned.
This fella, £1.44 million summer signing Marco Matias, was making a name for himself at least. His sublime effort at Elland Road of all places was voted the 2016 Mitre Goal of the Year.
The Owls’ fortunes improved following the late window additions of Barry Bannan, Daniel Pudil and Fernando Forestieri (pictured) – though the trio would taste defeat, against Burnley, en debut. The result saw Carvalhal’s men slip to 19th in the table.
Wednesday were going good in the League Cup, mind. September’s third round trip to Newcastle was settled by Lewis McGugan’s long-range strike.
By the following month another Portuguese recruit, Lucas Joao, was beginning to find his feet, but having scored in his side’s 2-1 win at Rotherham United it was a front tooth the youngster was looking for.
An appointment with the dentist later, Joao was on target in his next outing – a shock 3-0 win against Arsenal. Above, the Gunners players struggle to contain their embarrassment.
Arsene Wenger’s men ended the game with eight internationals, including a World Cup winner.
Fast-forward two-and-a-bit months, Wednesday showed their play-off credentials by coming from behind to beat Birmingham City 2-1 at St. Andrew’s, climbing to sixth place – and six points behind leaders Hull.
Gary Hooper (second right), who scored both goals against the Blues, became a permanent Owl in January. His goal against Nottingham Forest helped Carvalhal’s men to a 3-0 win – ending a run of five games without one. Forestieri was absent for two of those through suspension – some(/all of us) would argue unluckily.
And Hooper’s heroics (two goals and one very hard-fought assist) in Wednesday’s final home fixture against Cardiff sealed their place in the top six.
The Hillsborough faithful were out in force in the first leg of the play-offs against Brighton & Hove Albion…
…In which Kieran Lee’s tidy finish gave the Owls an ultimately insurmountable 2-0 advantage.
A 1-1 draw on the South Coast sent Wednesday (ahem…) on their way to Wembley.
And though Mo Diame’s strike ended the Owls promotion hopes, few will ever forget that sunny spring day in the capital.
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