A 1-0 defeat to Bradford City is a disappointment. But after the travails of the recent past you'd hardly call it crashing back down to Earth following the weekend win over Leyton Orient.
Tempering that disappointment is the fact that on another day this could have gone Wednesday's way. They were the better side in the first half, dominating early in particular before being undone by a set-piece at the start of the second half. What was concerning was that Aiden Baldwin's goal - which should have been a mere setback - knocked the stuffing out of Henrik Pedersen's side.
Pedersen made changes from the side that had won at Leyton Orient. Tyler Onyango played just 14 minutes of his debut at the stadium formerly known as Brisbane Road before suffering an ACL injury which will rule him out for the rest of the season.
Sil Swinkels and Jordi Liongola also missed out while Liam Palmer dropped to the bench. Yan Valery returned at right-back with Billy Mitchell brought into midfield and Louie Barry making his first league start.
Wednesday made a fast start, dominating early on. Barry Bannan had a glorious chance but saw his effort saved by Jon McCracken and Barry went close with a curling effort. Mr Q emblazoned above the name on the back of their shirts, Wednesday were displaying a gambler's swagger. Liam Cooper had another chance with a header from a corner. As club legends Chris Waddle, Mel Sterland, John Harkes and David Hirst looked on from the Hillsborough stands Wednesday threatened to run riot. But where was Des Walker?
Wednesday still looked in control for the remainder of the first half without really causing too many alarms. Had Jake Beesley got on the end of Kayden Jackson's fizzing cross a minute before the break the home side could have gone in a goal down.
Within two minutes of the restart they were. A corner was flicked on to where Baldwin was waiting to volley it past Joe Lumley. Never shy of sticking the boot in with a stat, Sky Sports informed us that Wednesday had lost all of the last 31 games in which they had conceded first. Given the turmoil of last season in particular this feels like an irrelevance. You can make it 32, as it turned out so maybe they do know something. Even Andy Hinchcliffe.
A loss of composure ensued. Harry Gray needlessly pushed McCracken on his way back upfield. Callum Slattery saw a great chance slip away as the ball got caught under his feet like an unsuspecting, sleeping dog. The absence of a cutting edge was a terminal failure for Pedersen's men.
Jamal Lowe is the focal point of the attack although he has licence to drift wide in Pedersen's system. But on this evidence there are question marks around whether he's totally suited to the role. He has the whiff of a striker who could thrive in this division off good service but if he has to go looking for it he falls short. Sheer surprise was arguably a contributing factor in his fluffing of a late chance as the ball broke to him at the far post.
Josh Neuville and Adam Phillips had decent efforts in a much more even second period. Phillips - who came on as a substitute for Bobby Pointon - used to be in my FM Touch 24 Barnsley team. There's pedigree for you. Meanwhile Pedersen waited until the 68th minute to give his side a shake.
When he did it was what NBA commentators used to call a trifecta. Cooper, Barry and Mitchell were all withdrawn as Swinkels, Mason Burstow and Kieran Morrison entered proceedings. Morrison has had pre season minutes for Liverpool recently and showed much promise. He should be good enough for this level. He showed flashes of his potential but was reasonably well marshalled by Bantams left back Ibou Touray. Who was in my Salford City FM Touch 24 team.
As the match wore on it was the away fans' rendition of The Cranberries classic Zombie that could be heard loudest. Although that could be something to do with deliberate manipulation from technical nerds at Sky. It wouldn't be the first time. But it did remind me of a quite brilliant scene in This Way Up when the anthemic hit is butchered by Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan. If you haven't seen it, get on it. Or maybe wait a few days until you have got over this result.
When you have - or even if you haven't - there's Wolves to worry about next in the Carabao Cup. It will be fascinating to see how much Pedersen prioritises it at the start of a season in which Wednesday have reasonable designs on a return to the Championship. But Wolves too will have promotion on their minds after their dismal showing in last season's Premier League. It may be a free hit for both clubs.
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