Sheffield Wednesday: Marvin Johnson, Max Lowe debate has been settled by West Brom evidence - View | OneFootball

Marvin Johnson's performance for Sheffield Wednesday against West Brom has cemented his place in the team ahead of Max Lowe.

It has been a tough start to the season for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, but they returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Wednesday narrowly avoided relegation last season following a remarkable turnaround under Danny Rohl, but after a strong summer transfer window, there was hope that they could climb the table in the year ahead.

The Owls got their season off to the perfect start with a 4-0 home win over Plymouth Argyle on the opening weekend, but they have found it much tougher since then, and prior to the game against West Brom, they had gone five league matches without a win.

It looked set to be a difficult game against an Albion side who arrived at Hillsborough sitting top of the table, but Wednesday established a surprise two-goal lead inside 23 minutes thanks to Darnell Furlong's own goal and Josh Windass' header.

The Baggies improved after the break, and they pulled one back in the 65th minute through Josh Maja before Alex Mowatt equalised with six minutes of normal time remaining.

It seemed as though the Owls would have to settle for a point, but just two minutes later, substitute Anthony Musaba won it for the hosts to move them out of the relegation zone and up to 18th in the table.

It was a victory that had been coming for Wednesday after some improved performances in recent weeks, and it should give them significant confidence to take into the game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Wednesday night.

Rohl's switch to a back three has largely been credited for the Owls' upturn in form, and after another impressive display against Albion, wing-back Marvin Johnson has cemented his place in the team ahead of summer signing Max Lowe.

Marvin Johnson sent a clear message to Danny Rohl against West Brom

Lowe started the first four games of the season at left-back after his summer move from Sheffield United, but Rohl was forced into a defensive reshuffle after his side conceded 10 goals in three league games in August.

As part of the move to a back three, Johnson has been deployed in a left wing-back role, and the new system has resulted in increased defensive solidity, with Wednesday conceding five goals in their last four matches.

Having scored just four goals in the four games Johnson did not start in, the Owls have netted six times in three outings since the 33-year-old's return to the starting line-up, and there is no doubt that his attacking threat down the left has been a big contributing factor to that improvement.

Johnson produced one of his trademark crosses for Wednesday's opening goal against the Baggies, with the ball deflecting in off the unfortunate Furlong, and having produced such deliveries frequently since his arrival from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2021, it was a reminder of exactly what Rohl's men had been missing over the previous few weeks.

It should be no surprise to see Johnson make a difference after returning to the team, as he made a similar impact when he was brought back into the fold last season following Rohl's arrival.

Despite scoring three goals and providing 14 assists in 51 games as the Owls were promoted from League One in the 2022-23 campaign, Johnson was frozen out by former manager Xisco Munoz last summer, and he did not feature at all in the first two months of the season.

However, Johnson was swiftly reintroduced to the team after Rohl replaced Munoz, and he went on to play a crucial role in Wednesday's survival, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 30 appearances.

Johnson's recent form may have nailed down his place in the team for now, but Lowe is a quality defender at Championship level, and he will still have a big part to play this season, with Johnson himself admitting that the competition for places is a positive thing.

"It’s brilliant, because even if I’m feeling good and playing well there are going to be times when I’m not, and I understand that. For the sake of the team, knowing that I’ve got somebody who can come in and do as good a job is perfect, and I believe Max feels the same," Johnson told The Star earlier this month.

"We need that, it’s not about the individual. We know what we went through last season, and what we did, but we’re not even thinking about that this season. We’re thinking positive and trying to finish as high as we can."

Those comments underline the team spirit that Rohl has instilled at Hillsborough over the past year, and Lowe will be determined to work hard to earn his place back, but Johnson is rapidly becoming one of the first names on the team-sheet.