Danny Rohl praised his Wednesday side after they got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Norwich at Hillsborough last night … just three days after that six-goal drubbing against Watford.
The Owls boss said: “Credit to my team. It was a great reaction after the Watford game.
“I know my team. We were very focussed and committed and kept our game plan in both halves of the game.
“We showed our face when we are strong and committed and got a clean sheet at the same time.”
He added: “The players were outstanding but after the game I told them today is not for jumping in the air, it is three points and no more.
“We can be proud of our reaction and our tactical understanding for the game, but now we recover and create energy for the big one on Sunday.”
That ‘big one on Sunday’ is the derby clash at Bramall Lane and three points against Norwich were much needed – and achieved – thanks to two first-half goals against a Canaries side who were poor on the night.
The win lifts us to 13th place on 18 points and, while even the most ardent Wednesday fan would probably agree it was hardly a classic display, it was a night when the result outweighed the overall level of performance.
Norwich were first to threaten after just six minutes with James Beadle saving an angled effort from Kellen Fisher.
Then, four minutes later, Ike Ugbo missed a great chance to put us in front from Marvin Johnson’s cross, somehow heading across goal and wide when almost on the goalline.
However, the disappointment was shortlived with Wednesday taking the lead within another two minutes, Johnson playing a cracking ball through for Josh Windass and he fired past keeper George Long from 12 yards.
And, just after the half-hour mark we were two-up. Svante Ingelsson’s determination won a free kick inside the Norwich half and when Shea Charles sent the resulting set-piece to the far post, Dominic Iorfa rose to nod home under Long, who probably felt he could have done better with his effort to keep out the header.
After being hit by Saturday’s goal blitz we had, not surprisingly, looked shaky at times on the few occasions Norwich pressed forward in the first half.
A third goal before the interval would have eased those nerves and we went close again shortly before half time when excellent build-up by the outstanding Johnson and then Windass set up Ugbo but the striker saw his curling effort to the bottom corner pushed away by the diving Long.
After the break, Yan Valery went close to converting another Johnson cross before Johnson himself brought a save out of Long with a 20-yarder.
Norwich thought they had reduced the deficit with 15 minutes left. Beadle was only able to half save a shot from Callum Doyle, then blocked the rebound before Borja Sainz headed home, only to be ruled offside.
At the other end, Wednesday might have completed the victory in style when Callum Paterson sent an overhead kick wide from Pol Valentin’s cross on 77 minutes and we held out to record a morale-boosting win ahead of that Steel City derby.
Beadle, Valery, Iorfa (Otegbayo 54), Bernard, M Lowe, S Charles, Bannan, Johnson (Paterson 64), Ingelsson (Valentin 76), Windass (Gassama 64), Ugbo (Smith 76). Unused subs: Charles, Palmer, Musaba, J. Lowe. Attendance: 22,731.