Leon Wobschall: Control is key for Carlos Carvalhal as David Wagner looks for elusive formula

It refers to a ‘foot-in-mouth’ moment of infamy that the abrasive Scottish manager would probably wish to forget.

After a Championship play-off semi-final first leg tie at Elland Road, the then Preston manager uttered the immortal phrase ‘job done’ after his side’s 1-1 draw at Leeds United in the spring of 2006.

It was duly noted by several been-around-the-block old sweats in the Leeds camp and Whites boss Kevin Blackwell too, with the West Yorkshire outfit ramming the taunts firmly back down the throat of ‘Marmite Man’ Davies after a 2-0 win at Deepdale in the second leg.

Job done, indeed, with the away dressing room something to behold. Quite something.

It is the sort of comment that would keep Carlos Carvalhal awake all night.

The Sheffield Wednesday head coach was at pains to avoid any potential complacency minefield in his comments after the first leg of Sunday’s all-Yorkshire semi-final at Huddersfield – even if it did not take a genius to work out that his side got exactly what they came for in a draw, just as Preston did 11 years ago.

LISTEN - PODCAST - Football Talk previews Owls v Town showdown

Carvalhal is strategic to the nth degree, both in terms of his game management on the day and his dealings with the press.

He sees things coming and straying off topic and away from his comfort zone is wholly anathema to the Portuguese. A micro-manager, he likes to set the agenda and control most of it.

His guard was such that he decided that the Owls would hold their pre-match press conference for the first leg just 24 hours before his side took the field at Huddersfield. He plainly did not want distractions and it was all about Mourinho-esque control and focusing at the season’s critical juncture and avoiding any unwanted grenades going off.

Loose talk and wagging tongues are not his way, the stakes are too high, after all.

His side’s ultra-professional regimented first leg performance at Huddersfield was similarly on-message and straight bat.

The Owls headed over the border to West Yorkshire for business, not pleasure. If you want entertainment, go and watch a bunch of clowns as a manager of yesterday-year once said.

It is not the time of season to be messing about or joking clearly. The Owls are keeping their heads down in the build-up to Wednesday night and there’s nothing much wrong with that.

It is deeds not words which Carvalhal is interested in. And if there are any words, they are carefully constructed and safe ones.

Wednesday have commandeered events over the last month-and-a-half. Dominoes have dropped into place and their plan seems to be coming together like a successful military operation. Carvalhal’s pieces are currently where he wants them to be, not that he will be saying that.

Carvalhal’s counterpart, David Wagner, must find something in his tactical toolbag to truly surprise his rival. His playing of the under-dog card is understandable, with his declaration that the Owls are under the most pressure also no shock. Wednesday would have been expecting that.

Wagner and Huddersfield have revelled in their ‘surprise package’ status all season - and they must come up with their best curve ball of the season on Wednesday night to extend their wonderful, intoxicating adventure. Do not put it past them in a joyride of a campaign.

Wagner will be relishing that challenge, for sure. Smart guys do. A fascinating night awaits. More especially if the visitors get the first goal. We shall see.