Carlos Carvalhal admitted Wednesday lost to the better side as our slump in form continued in a 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough.
With the Owls now left without a win in seven games and the play-off positions 11 points away, Carvalhal said: “We played against a strong team and I thought we started very well, but they were better than us today.
“We were defending very well but when we scored the goal, instinctively the players come a little down, not because we gave orders, they tried to protect the goal because we are not wining the last few games.
“We lost some intensity, we lost tempo and they started putting more direct balls between our defences and started causing problems for us.”
This was reflected in Wednesday hardly troubling Boro as an attacking force in the second half and the scoreline could easily have been worse for Carvalhal.
He added: “I am not happy. I still believe we can achieve the play-offs but we need to be stronger and be more of a threat to opponents. I think the circumstances are very difficult at the moment with nine players out injured.
“I have done my best since coming to Sheffield Wednesday and I will continue to work hard and do my best to try and win games.”
Carvalhal will also be taking a look over his shoulder towards the foot of the table, with Wednesday eight points clear of the relegation places.