Danny Rohl reflected on his disappointment at both ends of the pitch as Wednesday lost more ground at the foot of the Championship in a 2-0 defeat at Coventry this afternoon.
After a poor first-half showing by the Owls, we played with more aggression after the break but paid the price for missed chances at one end of the pitch and poor defending for the two Coventry goals.
And a second successive defeat, coupled with other results, sees us slip back to nine points from safety and only off the bottom on goal difference.
To add to our problems, we lost Callum Paterson to concussion after 20 minutes when he was hit by the ball on the side of the face and then defender Bambo Diaby was red-carded following a clash with Coventry’s Liam Kitching just before the final whistle.
Boss Rohl said afterwards that he expects Paterson to miss the next two games – at Preston on Friday and then at home to Hull on New Year’s Day – while Diaby could be banned for three matches following his straight red.
Coventry took the lead on 21 minutes when, with Paterson off the field and Wednesday temporarily reduced to 10 men, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto was given time and space in the box to turn the ball past Cameron Dawson
Our only real chance of the first 45 minutes came in stoppage time when George Byers headed over from a Marvin Johnson cross when he should have at least hit the target.
With Wednesday looking more competitive in the second half, we had a great opportunity to equalise on 64 minutes.
Keeper Brad Collins pushed out Liam Palmer’s angled drive, the ball landed at Anthony Musaba’s feet but he miscued from inside the six-yard box and Ashley Fletcher saw a second follow-up blocked by a Coventry defender.
Bailey Cadamarteri then tested Collins with a strong 18-yard drive but Coventry sealed the points in the 89th minute when weak defending allowed Sakamoto to turn inside the box and curl the ball into the far corner of the net.
There was still time for Diaby and Kitching to receive their marching orders after a penalty area clash as referee Langford signalled the end of the game.
Rohl added: “In the second half we changed the shape a little bit. This helped us have better control in the game, good pressing moments and winning the ball high.
“We created a big opportunity to come back into the game and equalise in the second half but missed the chance. We have three times in the one moment to finish the action with a goal but are not able to do this. To take something in this league you have to be clinical and take opportunities when they are there.
“Then I think it was the first shot in the second half from the opponent and they scored. It shows the quality in the two boxes.
“When you look back at the first goal we conceded, we were not able to defend this and if you always do the same mistakes then it will be hard to take something in this league.
“It is disappointing today, we didn’t take anything and we have to accept this but now it is about recovery and preparing for the next game.”
Dawson, Palmer (Valentin 79), Diaby, Bernard, Famewo (Gassama 79), Johnson, Vaulks (Bakinson 79), Byers (Fletcher 60), Bannan, Paterson (Musaba 21), Cadamarteri (Phuti 84). Unused subs: Vasquez, Ihiekwe, Siqueira.