‘My job and the players’ job is that we have a big party at the end of the season’ says Owls boss
SHEFFIELD Wednesday manager Danny Rohl felt his “bold decision” to make major changes for the 2-0 win over fellow strugglers QPR paid off.
Goals from Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba gave the secondfrom-bottom Owls a vital victory at Loftus Road in their battle against relegation from the Sky Bet Championship.
Rohl made five changes to his side in the wake of Monday’s defeat at Middlesbrough.
He said: “We changed a lot. For me it was clear after the Middlesbrough game that we could not just continue and hope something changes.
“I think some people will be surprised to see all these changes. It was a bold decision from my side. I cannot just continue and hope. I want to see a reaction and I saw a reaction.”
Wednesday failed to win any of their first 13 league matches of the season but their improvement since Rohl took over in October has given them a fighting chance of staying up.
The German said: “We played very well and did well as a team. I’m very happy. There are five games to go and we have a chance.
“Everybody was ready for this fight and that is our job. Do it – and do it until the end.
“My job and the players’ job is that we have a big party at the end of the season. Keep going and we have a big party at the end.
“It is our job and this is what I demand. With the right mindset and attitude we can do it.”
The win leaves second-from-bottom Wednesday just a point from Huddersfield in 21st. QPR’s own relegation fears were eased by recent back-to-back wins but this result leaves them just four points ahead of Wednesday.
Wednesday would have gone ahead in the first half had Josh Windass not missed a sitter. The forward contrived to nudge the ball past the far post from a yard out after being set up by Ian Poveda.
The Owls suffered another setback when the lively Poveda, who had been causing Rangers problems, was taken off just before the half-hour mark after picking up what looked like a hamstring injury. But Gassama, his replacement, was also a thorn in QPR’s side and scored the opening goal on 59 minutes.
Gassama weaved his way into the box, going past Sam Field with ease, and then had a touch of good fortune when Isaac Hayden’s attempted clearance cannoned off the Frenchman and into the net.
Lucas Andersen almost equalised when his fierce strike hit the bar but otherwise Rangers struggled to create clear-cut chances.
QPR still struggled to create opportunities but one did fall to Jimmy Dunne, who headed over from Chris Willock’s cross.
Dunne headed over again late on, this time at the far post from a cross by Ilias Chair, but Wednesday were generally comfortable and scored again in the final seconds to seal their win.
Gassama was again involved, this time darting down the left and finding Musaba, who blasted past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
QPR: Begovic, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter (Smyth 69), Paal (Fox 69), Hayden (Dykes 69), Field, Willock, Andersen, Chair, Armstrong (Adomah 90). Unused substitutes: Joseph Hodge, Dixon-Bonner, Cannon, Larkeche, Walsh.
Sheffield Wednesday: Beadle, Iorfa, Bambo Diaby, Ihiekwe, Famewo (Pedersen 81), Smith (Valentin 81), Palmer, Bannan, Poveda-Ocampo (Gassama 29), Ugbo (Paterson 70), Windass (Musaba 70). Unused substitutes: Dawson, Vaulks, Hendrick, Cadamarteri. Referee: G Scott (Oxfordshire).