Soccer gossip: Inquests on Leeds, Hull, Doncaster. Blades, Millers, Owls

JAY BOTHROYD is urging Sheffield Wednesday to keep calm on and off the pitch as the club attempts to halt its alarming slide.

The Owls are without a victory in eight games in all competitions, with Dave Jones’ troops slumping to their third successive home defeat in a 1-0 derby loss to Hull City on Saturday.

Bothroyd used Twitter to air his views, just a few weeks after getting into trouble via social media for a foul-mouthed tirade against a small section of Wednesday supporters.

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Bothroyd, who came off in the 77th minute with boss Jones saying he had been having trouble with his breathing and had to use an inhaler, said: “We’re just not getting the rub of the green. We should have a goal clearly over the line, and a penalty, I thought.

“We get into great positions and we haven’t had enough composure to cross/pass/finish at the end.

“No need to be worried. It’s a bad patch. Doesn’t matter where SWFC are in the league now. It matters in May.

“In the international break, we must recharge the batteries and come back raring to go.”

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Meanwhile, Tigers chief Steve Bruce admitted he was delighted for match-winning super-sub Aaron Mclean, who netted almost with his first touch to bring City’s mini-slump to a halt.

On Mclean, Bruce said: “He’s had to wait patiently. He’s been knocking my door down for weeks, so I’ll have a peaceful week. I’ll have a rest from him now!

“He’s played wide on the right for us and I know he doesn’t really enjoy that.

“He’s always in your thoughts because he is lively and effervescent. He’s a larger-than-life character and I’m delighted for him.”

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Fuming Barnsley boss Keith Hill slammed referee Darren Deadman after the referee’s decision to award Leeds a decisive penalty in an unlucky 1-0 reverse at Elland Road.

After dominating early on, Barnsley were stunned in the 42nd minute when Stephen Foster’s challenge on Lee Peltier was deemed by Deadman to have taken place inside the box, with replays later showing that the incident took place outside.

Hill said: “The referee has got a major decision seriously wrong there. It was inexplicable.

“We all knew at half-time, you just wonder if the assessor knew. It wasn’t even marginal.

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“Our performance will be forgotten in two weeks, but results like this lead to pressure and it just builds and builds.”

Huddersfield chief Simon Grayson saw loan star Jermaine Beckford get off the mark for the club with the only goal of the game at under-pressure Lee Clark’s Birmingham City - and he was adamant the visitors fully deserved the spoils at St Andrews.

It was Town’s third successive away win following on from earlier victories at Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool and Grayson was thrilled to pick up the three points following two successive losses on home soil to Leicester City and Watford.

He said: “I think deservedly we got the win, getting any points in the Championship is never easy.

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“We started the game very well, very brightly, pressurised Birmingham when we needed to, played in the right areas with purpose and created some good opportunities. I’m delighted from that point of view.

“The back end of the game when Birmingham had nothing to lose we were resilient and withstood some pressure. To come here and get a result is satisfying from my point of view after two tough home defeats.”

Sheffield United boss Danny Wilson has confirmed he will look to sign a goalkeeper on loan after revealing Mark Howard faces a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Howard departed early on in the Blades’ 1-0 victory at Leyton Orient and while teen deputy George Long performed admirably in his absence, Wilson is reviewing his keeping options with United having a glaring lack of cover in that department.

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Wilson said: “We’ll have to try and bring another ‘keeper in, whether that be a first-team player or cover depends upon what is available to us.

“But in my mind right now as we speak, it’s not about replacing George. It’s simply about getting another ‘keeper.”

Doncaster Rovers also claimed a weekend win bonus, with Billy Paynter’s early penalty enough to sink Shrewsbury, with some unwelcome injury news regarding giant defender Jamie McCombe has taken a bit of the gloss away from the victory.

Rovers could be without McCombe until after the New Year, with a scan revealed that a thigh injury he has been carrying recently is more serious than originally thought.

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Alongside a torn muscle in the front of his thigh, McCombe also has a hairline fracture of the spine.

“It’s a big blow,” said Rovers boss Dean Saunders.

Rotherham United frontman Daniel Nardiello and left-back Laurie Wilson have handed Millers boss Steve Evans a boost and are set to return to training this week.

Ex-Barnsley forward Nardiello missed the goalless weekend draw at York due to a groin problem.

Saturday’s Bootham Crescent derby saw Minstermen midfielder Scott Kerr make his long-awaited return for the hosts, with York’s determined performance, despite not yielding three points, pleasing boss Gary Mills.

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He said: “Rotherham set their stall out to get promoted this season and we’ve got a 0-0 at home with them.

“When you have games like this, you have to be strong and wait for that opening.

We had a couple of good openings to score, we didn’t take them and that’s the difference. But I’m absolutely delighted with my players again.”

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