Henrik Pedersen confident Sheffield Wednesday have a bright future ahead

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen predicted a brighter future for the Championship’s bottom club after a battling 0-0 draw against West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Wednesday took their points tally to minus five by ending a run of four straight defeats with a first clean sheet in seven while they were backed by a big away following.

And Pedersen is excited about the potential of the club now that administrators have taken over from former owner Dejphon Chansiri to try to find a buyer.

“To feel this atmosphere from the fans, it’s been a great week,” said Pedersen.

“This togetherness is a good pointer towards the future. We have a fantastic club and have been in a difficult situation – and still are – but the perspective now is that the future is brighter.

“The way the fans, players and staff are pulling together right now is amazing.”

Wednesday had a rearguard fight as goalkeeper Ethan Horvath kept his side in the game in the first half.

Pedersen added: “I’m really proud of the performance. The theme of this week has been to be the player you want to be and who you do not want to be.

“Also how we can keep ourselves at a high level for 90 minutes, because the tendency is we can compete but not for 90 minutes. This is the first time we have been at it mentally for 90 minutes.

“The first 10 minutes were tough but the boys kept going. We couldn’t really get out because of their pressing, but we changed a few things in the build-up and had more of the ball in the last 20 minutes of the first half.

“Our defensive organisation was really good. There’s still a lot of things we want to do better on the ball but we were strong offensively.”

West Brom, who have now failed to score in three of their last five outings and won just one in that time, were booed off at the end.

Horvath denied Mikey Johnston twice, Alex Mowatt and Josh Maja, while Isaac Price’s fierce effort whistled wide and Maja nodded over.

Horvath left his best to last when he flew to his right to save the blushes of team-mate Dominic Iorfa, who tried to cut out Krystian Bielik’s cross.

Ike Ugbo went closest for Wednesday but his shot lacked power, while Liam Palmer ballooned a loose ball over the crossbar.

Albion head coach Ryan Mason said: “We need to anticipate and be as optimistic as possible in the final third.

“There were a couple of situations where their keeper made a save and the ball fell and it was there for the taking.

“So we need to work to get inside the minds and bodies of the group to sniff out chances.

“But we know of the work we need to do and it’s a team effort.

“We came to win and so we’re disappointed.

“I thought we started well and we had a few good moments, but the longer it stays 0-0 the more anxiety there was.”