OWLS TO FERN THE SCREW
Hero Forestieri returns just in time for the play-off push
CARLOS CARVALHAL is relieved that Fernando Forestieri is back to his best to give Sheffield Wednesday a final play-off push.
Top scorer Forestieri, out for more than a month with a knee injury, made a spectacular comeback as Carvalhal marked his 100th game in charge of Wednesday with a win.
It looked as if Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, a former Sheffield United manager, was about to put the brakes on the Owls’ top-six charge.
That was until Forestieri combined with fellow sub Jordan Rhodes with just six minutes left to seal a third straight Wednesday win.
Rhodes ran at the Cardiff and hammered in an angled shot that keeper Allan McGregor saved, only for the Argentinian to dive in and head his 12th goal of the season.
With Fulham winning at Norwich, it was a goal that Carvalhal badly needed to keep his side in the top six. And he admitted that he was not sure what sort of performance he was going to get from Forestieri.
Carvalhal said: “Even when Fernando is training we never know what to expect. It’s like when you receive a gift. You have a box but you don’t know what is inside.
“He needs more time but we are happy because he is a fantastic player.”
There was little excitement for most of the afternoon, with Warnock dropping the creative Peter Whittingham to the bench and sticking the defensively defence minded Greg Halford in front of his back four.
It smothered Wednesday’s midfield, and left strikers Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher frustrated, although Ross Wallace did have a shot turned on to the post by McGregor in the first half.
Warnock teased Wednesday fans afterwards by saying that he hoped they don’t get promoted because he wants a Sheffield derby in the Championship next season.
He said: “I thought Wednesday were average today, if I’m honest.
“They’ll have to do better if they get in the play-offs.
“I’m looking forward to next season. I really hope there’s a Sheffield derby next year.”