HEMED SPARKS DEMOLITION JOB
Tuesday jinx strikes again for Wednesday
FORgET masked murderers or demons or ghosts — for Sheffield Wednesday, there is nothing scarier than a Tuesday night fixture.
Just over a week from Halloween, they posted another horror show. Blood was spilled as they fell to defeat at Queens Park Rangers, their sixth consecutive loss on a Tuesday.
The goals for the hosts came from Tomer Hemed, Luke Freeman and Nahki Wells, but it was the sight of Daniel Pudil, blood pouring from his head, that stuck.
No one will forget Pudil’s anger at referee John Brooks, who missed Angel Rangel’s raking ke boot when the defender stooped to head at a corner kick. ‘If the referee had given a penalty, nobody would have been surprised,’ said Wednesday bosss Jos Luhukay.
‘ I must see the situation back butut the referee did not lose the game for us. It was maybe a crucial moment. Maybe you can come back.’
Luhukay’s team lacked fluidity after he made five changes to the XI that lost to Middlesbrough — including dropping Tom Lees.
It may have been a mistake — this defeat means they have fallen from a play-off place two games ago to mid-table.
In the 35th minute QPR broke the deadlock, with Israel’s Hemed scoring his third goal in three matches for club and country after heading in following a Cameron Dawson parry.
Wednesday had their moments after the break, a flicked attempt from Adam Reach’s cross hitting a post, but Steve McClaren’s side doubled their lead with a flying Luke Freeman header.
‘It was hugely satisfying,’ McClaren said. ‘This was a big test for us. It took us a while to get into the game but we defended magnificently. That was the platform for winning.’
Then came the kick to Pudil’s head. The 1700 Wednesday fans behind the goal knew their man had been wronged and let Brooks know. Still, no penalty and no comeback.
Soon Wells, on loan from Burnley, rifled in his first goal since April 2017 to cap the victory. ‘That was perfect for us for him to do that,’ added McClaren.
‘He’s been frustrated but he’s never stopped working.’