Carvalhal salutes his stars as Pudil boosts play-off hopes

DANIEL PUDIL’S headed winner after 31 minutes took Sheffield Wednesday a huge step closer to the Championship play-offs. Wednesday climbed to fifth thanks to rivals Leeds losing at home to Wolves. Carlos Carvalhal, the Wednesday manager, praised his side’s strength of character. ‘We were fantastic. We are very strong mentally,’ he said. ‘When you play twice in three days, physical teams can cause you problems. ‘But we have four wins in a row and the mentality is really strong, which is why we achieved the three points today. ‘I am very happy with our players. We are ready for this part of the season. It will be three finals and our focus is on this.’ Adam Reach had put Wednesday ahead after 12 minutes before Idrissa Sylla levelled with his 10th goal of the season for Rangers after 20 minutes . Pudil’s winner came when he nodded home after goalkeeper Alex Smithies had kept out Jordan Rhodes’ header from a Ross Wallace free-kick. Wallace might then have made it 3-1 had Jack Robinson not robbed him with a desperate last-ditch tackle. Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood denied Sylla a second goal shortly before half-time, tipping over the striker’s header. Rangers kept up the pressure early in the second half and had appeals for a penalty denied after Westwood clattered into Jamie Mackie. QPR boss Ian Holloway brought on striker Matt Smith on for the final 15 minutes in a doomed search for an equaliser. Instead, his side slipped to a fifth defeat in a row, remaining on 50 points. Holloway said: ‘Did we deserve to lose? No. It’s very frustrating but if we can get three points in the next game at Brentford then everybody can just breathe and we can start again.’