Sheffield Wednesday has been playing brilliantly lately, and their defense appears to have significantly improved as well, giving up just three goals in their previous four games, two of which were against Leicester City, the top club in the league.
With Di’Shon Bernard, Marvin Johnson, Michael Ihiekwe, Liam Palmer, and Pol Valentin in the rear, it looks like the Owls have finally found a cohesive unit.
But the latter truly put a wrench in the works the last time out when, late in their victory over Bristol City, he was given a red card.
Now that he has been given a one-match suspension, Bernard will miss their crucial trip to Rotherham United.
The Millers may be separated from safety by just one goal differential come Sunday, but this matchup could be the most crucial of the season for the visitors, who are currently stuck at the bottom of the Championship table.
Danny Rohl will undoubtedly be keen to maintain the majority of the same lineup and strategy that have defeated Birmingham, Millwall, and Bristol City in recent weeks, but Bernard will need to be replaced.
The 23-year-old’s absence actually occurs at the ideal time, if there is such a thing, as the team has just recently accepted Dominic Iorfa back into the fold.
After being out for nearly two months, the defender returned last time out, starting off the bench.
With one defender out and another in Iorfa, who had started three straight games at right back before being hurt, Pol Valentin’s recent form turnaround means he is currently somewhat surplus to needs on that defensive line.
“Fantastic” Iorfa might have the chance to return to his best in the middle with Bernard out of the picture.
Bernard’s injury looks to be a major reason to switch to a back four, and his teammate should be given the start instead as he performed admirably under Rohl before getting hurt.
Rohl and his team will only gain from having such outstanding defenders at their disposal, and players like Michael Ihiekwe and Liam Palmer have been surprisingly important to the team’s recent success.
Bernard is undoubtedly aware that, even with a strong performance by the guys at New York Stadium, he won’t be able to simply return to the backline.
