‘Wanted man’ Macheda shows Owls what they missed out on

Macheda joined Doncaster Rovers on a month’s loan after talks with Wednesday officials failed to clinch a deal.

After his powerful second-half header earned a 1-0 derby victory for Rovers at Hillsborough, Macheda explained he opted to join Paul Dickov’s side because he felt “more wanted”.

Following Rovers’ classic smash-and-grab victory, the 22-year-old Italian said after holding talks with the Owls about a loan move he felt Wednesday were not committed to the deal.

“I went to Doncaster because they were probably the team that really wanted me,” he said. “If I didn’t go to other clubs, it was because they wanted me but they weren’t sure about me.

“I came to Rovers because the manager really wanted me and I am happy to have made that choice.”

Asked if he had the chance to move to Hillsborough, Macheda replied: “I did, but it’s not my fault if I didn’t come here.

“Maybe there has been some problems, I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t really want me, as Doncaster did.

“Maybe they weren’t so sure about me. I went to Doncaster because they really wanted me.”

In his match-winning role on Saturday he showed the Owls – and Jones – the predatory instincts so sorely lacking at Wednesday.

Defeat leaves the Owls still searching for their first win of the campaign and a run of just one win in their last 14 games means pressure is mounting on Jones.

Wednesday – who gave debuts to Roger Johnson, Stephen McPhail and Matty Fryatt, the latter off the bench – dominated the opening hour but failed to convert their chances.

They were punished for their sloppy finishing when James Coppinger floated in an inviting cross and Macheda rose unchallenged in front of goal to head home and send the travelling Rovers fans wild at the Leppings Lane end.

Jones said it was vital his players did not start to “feel sorry for themselves” with a tough trip to Brighton & Hove Albion to come tomorrow night.

The Owls then face Ipswich Town at home on Saturday before the two-week international break and it is important they pick up points in their next two games or face being marooned in the relegation zone.

Wednesday are on four points with Barnsley, who lost 2-1 at Leicester City, and Bolton Wanderers, who scraped a 1-1 home draw against Yeovil.

“It’s important that everybody keeps their heads up,” stressed Jones. “We’ll go again and prepare for Brighton on Tuesday night.

“I feel so sorry for everyone connected to the club because the players have worked their socks off and got no reward.

“We did so well in so many areas. We have created chances but it just wouldn’t go in for us.

“We’ve had one cleared off the line and I don’t know how their ‘keeper got down at the far post to deny Miguel Llera.

“But we can’t and won’t feel sorry for ourselves because that was a good performance.”

Barnsley’s defeat was their seventh in nine games and signalled the club’s worst start to a season for more than 50 years.

Middlesbrough are also struggling down in 18th and without a win in seven matches after a 2-0 defeat at Championship leaders QPR.

Joey Barton’s fourth-minute goal set Harry Redknapp’s men on their way towards a seventh league win, which never looked threatened once Charlie Austin converted from the penalty spot following handball by Ben Gibson 11 minutes before the break.

Burnley are second ahead of Leicester on goal difference after they beat an out-of-form Charlton side 3-0 at Turf Moor.

Danny Ings put the home side ahead before half-time, Sam Vokes wrapping up a comfortable victory with two goals in the second half.

Leeds United slipped down to 15th as second-half goals from Millwall’s Martyn Woolford and Scott Malone condemned them to their third league loss in as many games.

Leeds manager Brian McDermott said: “I’m very disappointed with how we played in the second half. We didn’t turn up. I asked the question of the players, ‘Tell me, what that was about?’ It’s a shock to my system.”

In League One, Sheffield United were left bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat at Wolves, adding to the pressure on rookie manager David Weir.

Bradford City overcame the loss through injury of leading scorer Nahki Wells to win 2-1 in stoppage time at home to Shrewsbury Town – a result that takes them to fifth in the table.

Fellow promoted club Rotherham United dropped to seventh after their first defeat of the season, 1-0 at home to second-placed Peterborough.

Manager Steve Evans was far from unhappy, however, hailing his side’s performance as their best of the season.

His side tasted defeat in a league game for the first time since April 6, but Evans said: “We’re disappointed and so you should be when you don’t win a football match, but we can be very positive and very proud of our team’s performance.”

In League Two, goals by Wes Fletcher (2), Lewis Montrose and Ryan Jarvis ended a run of eight matches without a win for York City as they beat Portsmouth 4-2 at Bootham Crescent.