Four goals in 12 disastrous second-half minutes saw Wednesday crash to defeat in our relegation six-pointer at Huddersfield this afternoon … and leave us with an even bigger mountain to climb if we are to stay in the Championship.
We remain one off the bottom but with 22nd-placed QPR winning at Blackburn we now trail them by five points and are eight points behind Huddersfield – and safety – after today’s desperately disappointing performance.
All four goals were gifted to the home side and Danny Rohl will surely be just as concerned about the lack of aggression, commitment and desire shown by his side in the second half and against a Huddersfield side who were clearly lacking confidence at the start of the game and were no more than mediocre throughout, despite the scoreline.
We had begun the game in promising fashion and created early chances, with Ike Ugbo seeing a shot deflected over by ex-Owls skipper Tom Lees. From the resulting corner, Michael Ihiekwe’s far post header was cleared off the line by Rhys Healey and, when we recycled the ball, Ugbo’s close-in flick was just wide.
Huddersfield gradually found their way into the game and they went close just after the half hour when James Beadle saved with his feet at the far post from Sorba Thomas.
And, while we had the better of the first half, we worringly again lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
We then failed to keep up the attacking threat at the start of the second period while Beadle remained relatively untroubled … before we somehow contrived to present the home side with four goals between the 68th and 80th minutes.
The goal rush began when Anthony Musaba was easily outmuscled by Matty Pearson from a corner to the far post and the defender headed home.
Two minutes later the home side doubled their lead when Djeidi Gassama lost possession in the Huddersfield half and Josh Koroma seized on the through ball from Ben Wiles to stride forward and slot past Beadle.
Worse followed on 76 minutes when debutant full back Kristian Pedersen was caught out by a long pass and Thomas took full advantage, firing across Beadle and into the far corner of the net.
And the misery was complete with 10 minutes left, Di’Shon Bernard playing a wayward backpass which allowed Koroma to pounce and drive in his second and Huddersfield’s fourth, amidst some desperate Wednesday defending.
Our only threat of the second half came late on when Mallik Wilks brought a diving save out of home keeper Lee Nicholls but the game was well and truly lost by that stage.
Beadle, Valentin, Bernard, Ihiekwe, Pedersen (James 82), Palmer, Bannan (M Diaby 82), Gassama, Musaba (Poveda 73), Ugbo (Cadamarteri 62), Smith (Wilks 73). Unused subs: Charles, Siqueira, Famewo, Vaulks.