Sheffield Wednesday show encouraging attribute despite West...

According to Fin Tait, Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl praised his team’s flexibility as the Owls struggled

to regain the lead in the match before losing to West Bromwich Albion in the closing minutes.

In a humiliating first half, the home team had 66 percent of the possession and fired eight shots to Wednesday’s

three in a lopsided first forty-five minutes. Even if the outcome ultimately went against them, Saturday’s match was

another evidence of the Owls’ ability to pick up steam in games when they had finished second.

An injury late in that first half for Di’Shon Bernard brought Marvin Johnson into the game, with Max Lowe moving

over to fill the gap at centre back and Johnson slotting into left back. Following the double introduction of Pol

Valentin and Svante Ingelsson and a switch in system 10 minutes into the second half, Wednesday began to pick

pockets of momentum and find footholds in the game.

In the 54th minute, Pol Valentin and Svante Ingelsson replaced Nathaniel Chalobah and Stuart Armstrong, Röhl’s

first scheduled substitutes. Although the Baggies’ first half attack was evened out and the away team came within

ninety seconds of leaving The Hawthorns with what would have been an outstanding away point, these alterations

were unable to stop the hosts from scoring before the Owls.

“We looked at how we want to be building up and how we want to press,” said Röhl: “For me it was important to

carry on in the second-half for the first five or 10 minutes to see what happens. It was clear to bring some players in

to change the shape. You see my team is always able to change something during the game and this is fantastic to

see. We have a big self-confidence that we can make a good impact.”

Ike Ugbo and Callum Paterson would also replace Yan Valery and Michael Smith in the 86th minute. In the last

minutes of ordinary time, Paterson would have released Ugbo with a lovely headed header, but former Owl Joe

Wildsmith got down superbly to keep the Canadian out and prolong his goalless streak. Paterson was the player who

tied the score late in the game, giving the Owls the title of Championship team with the most goals scored by

substitutes.

Bernard’s injury and the probable prolonged absence of captain Barry Bannan are two factors that Röhl must take

into account when the Owls travel to Swansea City for a Wednesday night match.

Sheffield Wednesday show encouraging attribute despite West Brom gut-punch