Bailey Peacock-Farrell clean sheet statistic highlights Sheffield Wednesday defensive improvement

Bailey Peacock-Farrell has responded to his critics from earlier in the season in the best possible way.

The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper’s return to form has coincided with his side’s ascent towards the play-off places.

After agreeing a season-long loan from Burnley, he started the campaign in fine form as the Owls emerged as one of the early pace setters.

However, he and his team mates then struggled as a run of 11 matches brought just two wins and one clean sheet, for which Joe Wildsmith was in goal with Peacock-Farrell away on international duty.

In the 15 games that have succeeded that run, starting from the 3-0 win against Sunderland, Darren Moore’s side have picked up nine victories which have brought seven more clean sheet along with them.

That has taken Peacock-Farrell’s tally to 11 for the season and no goalkeeper in League One has kept more this term.

He is joined on that total by Portsmouth’s Gavin Bazunu and Wycombe’s David Stockdale with the latter having played three more games than the Wednesday goalkeeper.

It highlights the improvement, not just of Peacock-Farrell, but also of his defence who have been instrumental in the club’s recent upturn in form.

Supporters will be desperate for the 25-yard-old and the defenders in front of him to add to those 11 clean sheets when league leaders Rotherham make the short trip to Hillsborough for Sunday’s Yorkshire derby.

Although, the Millers have been equally watertight at the back in recent weeks and Wednesday will have to become the first team to score against Paul Warne’s side in over 450 minutes of league football to have any chance of victory at the weekend.