Sheffield Wednesday reaction: Carlos Carvalhal takes swipe at critics after 'lucky' win over Brentford

Owls manager Carlos Carvalhal admitted fortune played its part after his team stretched their unbeaten run to six matches with a 2-1 win over Brentford at Hillsborough.
Ross Wallace celebrates scoring Wednesday's winner late on (Photo: Steve Ellis)Ross Wallace celebrates scoring Wednesday's winner late on (Photo: Steve Ellis)
Ross Wallace celebrates scoring Wednesday's winner late on (Photo: Steve Ellis)

Nico Yennaris had the Bees in front after nine minutes, with his shot fumbled into his own net by Owls keeper Kieren Westwood, and then the visitors played much the better football only for Gary Hooper to equalise in first-half injury time.

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Brentford's failure to find a second goal was to be their undoing, though, as Ross Wallace smashed in from a 70th-minute corner to steal the points for Wednesday.

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Carvalhal had a sly dig at his critics after naming a rare unchanged starting XI.

"We were a little lucky, just like Brentford were here last season when they won 2-1," admitted Carvalhal.

"I knew it would be a very difficult game as they are in a false position in the division. We are a team with a big heart and that's why we won today.

"In the first half, Brentford started better and had a couple of chances to add a second goal and it would have been very difficult for us.

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"We took a bit of a risk and after we equalised, we corrected some tactical things in the second half and began to control the game."

On naming an unchanged side, he added: "We wanted to keep the momentum from Saturday and that's why I named the same team, but it was a difficult decision as we had to take players off late in the game.

"Next time we have to decide whether to keep the momentum or put some fresh legs in - physical and mental - to give some energy to the team.

"People talk about momentum and they should pay attention to this game, because in future I will remember this game as it will help my decisions."

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Brentford boss Dean Smith was disappointed to see his side lose but was relieved right-back Henrik Dalsgaard's injury was not as bad as first feared.

The Denmark international was carried off on a stretcher following 10 minutes of treatment deep into injury time at Hillsborough, but was back on his feet in the dressing room afterwards.

Nico Yennaris had the Bees in front after nine minutes, with his shot fumbled into his own net by Owls keeper Kieren Westwood, and then the visitors played much the better football only for Gary Hooper to equalise in first-half injury time.

Brentford's failure to find a second goal was to be their undoing, though, as Ross Wallace smashed in from a 70th-minute corner to steal the points for Wednesday.

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"After the first half, we should have been walking off the pitch three goals up," lamented Smith. "We didn't take our chances, though, and we then had that sucker punch at the end of the first half.

"We have got to learn as a team, and a lack of nous has cost us the equaliser. We should have had the game sewn up.

"They started the second half better than we did and until they scored we huffed and puffed a little bit. We were then the better team again after they went in front and deserved to score another goal, but it wasn't to be. We have to keep believing in what we are doing."

The game finally ended after 17 minutes of injury time due to what looked a sickening injury to Dalsgaard but Smith said: "Amazingly, he's up walking and talking in the dressing room.

"It looked a scary one at one stage as he wasn't moving for a while and with the amount of people around him, it was very worrying. We are thankful he seems to be okay."