Wednesday boss won’t throw in towel despite latest blow to survival bid WE’LL STILL GIVE MOORE
Sheff Wed 0 Swansea 2
BOSS Darren Moore insists Sheffield Wednesday will keep fighting even though logic suggests they are doomed.
The Owls remain seven points from safety with five games to go after defeat to promotion-chasing Swansea, their 10th in 13 games.
Yet a defiant Moore (above), who returned from a bout of coronavirus on Monday, said: “I can understand the logic, but we have to go with the numbers while they are still there for us.
“I won’t get distracted by thinking about anything else while the numbers are still there - and while they are still there, we will keep battling. We won’t feel sorry for ourselves, it’s not in our make-up.”
Wednesday appear destined to be relegated to the third tier for the fourth time in their 154year history and have managed just seven points from the last 39 possible.
They were competitive against Swansea, but lacked quality at both ends in the big moments.
Keeper Freddie Woodman touched Liam Shaw’s shot around a post in Wednesday’s best effort and they did not create enough decent openings.
Their defending for Swansea’s opener on 31 minutes was truly awful and they never recovered from that self-inflicted wound.
Barry Bannan played Tom Lees into trouble and he was outmuscled too easily by Andre Ayew, who crossed for Jamal Lowe to slot home his 12th goal of the campaign for the Swans.
Keiren Westwood then denied Ayew when he came quickly off his line.
But there was nothing he could do on 73 minutes, Connor Roberts making an instant impact after coming on to whip over a cross for Jay Fulton to head home.
Swansea were comfortable winners and boss Steve Cooper hopes their second straight win means they are back on track following four successive losses.
They are seven points off Watford in second and Cooper refuses to give up hope of catching them.
“We are certainly chasing,” he said. “While there’s a chance, it gives you hope and when there’s hope you keep going.”
SHEFF WED: Westwood 7, Hutchinson 6, Lees 4, Borner 5 (Green 76, 6), Palmer 6, Bannan 5, Pelupessy 5, Reach 5, Shaw 6 (Brown 64, 6), Windass 6, Rhodes 5 (Paterson 64, 6)
SWANSEA: Woodman 6, Naughton 6, Bennett 7, Guehi 6, Manning 6 (Bidwell 74, 7), Grimes 6, Fulton 6, Hourihane 6 (Smith 80), Lowe 7, Routledge 6 (Roberts 73, 7), MOTM Ayew 7