ROSS IS BOSS AS OWLS WIN THE UGLY WAY
THIS narrow win over Wigan Athletic may not live long in the memory of Barry Bannan but the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder insists the confidence gained will be invaluable as the Owls aim to keep their play-off push going.
Bannan produced a man-ofthe-match display as Wednesday came away from the DW Stadium on Friday with all three points thanks to Ross Wallace’s goal shortly before the break.
The goal was set up by deadline-day signing Jordan Rhodes as the on-loan Middlesbrough man made his presence felt straightaway.
The visitors then had to weather a second-half rally as relegation-threatened Wigan attempted to salvage something from the game.
And while it wasn’t their prettiest performance of the season, Bannan insists the three points was all that mattered to the Owls.
“It was ugly, I think that will be going to the back of my mind – I won’t be remember that game. The main thing is we’ve got the three points,” he said.
“We’ve come here, the pitch didn’t suit us, I don’t think it would have suited Wigan either, and we ground out a result.
“I think maybe last year we could have drawn that or lost it.
“It’s three points though, it was a massive result for us.
“You know they are going to launch it at the end, that’s what every team does in the last few minutes.
“Their big centre-back came up and caused us problems but the defence were brilliant when called upon.
“We’ve been trying to work on things defensively and our clean sheets have been brilliant.
“That always gives you a chance of winning games when you’ve got the strikers we’ve got.”
Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal made changes both in defence and attack with the onloan Rhodes coming straight in for his debut, replacing Sam Winnall.
But on a difficult pitch, the game took time to get going – Wigan’s Sam Morsy first to register a shot on target in the 29th minute.
But on 43 minutes the visitors got their goal, with Rhodes nodding down Vincent Sasso’s high ball to Wallace, who finished via a deflection off Jake Buxton.
The Latics improved after the break with Morsy immediately testing Keiren Westwood.
Dan Burn then connected with Max Power’s cross but the header was straight at Westwood, while the former Wigan man also played in Callum Connolly who rounded the keeper to score but the linesman’s flag was raised.
Substitute James Weir headed over before Michael Jacobs’ low shot flashed wide but it was not to be as Wigan remained stuck in the relegation zone.
Manager Warren Joyce said: “The way we conceded the goal just before half-time was disappointing. We started the game well and were on top, without having a clear-cut chance, and I thought we were on the front foot.
“But in that little spell before half-time I felt that we lost our shape. They’ve got some good players and they were going to have little bits of play.
“It’s important that when the opposition do that, we regroup and we’re more resilient.
“I couldn’t be disappointed with the effort and commitment from the players to try to get something from the game.”