Fighting talk from Carvalhal

Wednesday are still collectively licking their wounds after a humbling and embarrassing loss to Sheffield United, in which Carvalhal’s side were comprehensively outfought and outplayed, with the Portuguese having told angry fans to blame him for the defeat.

The Owls now face successive games with Birmingham and Leeds United, with Carvalhal, under pressure from sections of the club’s support, determined to ride out any growing storm and confident that his players will show their fighting qualities.

Carvalhal, in impassioned form at the club’s pre-match press conference, said: “You have two choices at this moment.

“One, you can cry in the corner and still think about the past or you react, look forward to the future and try to prepare to win the next game. This is our way.

“If you have a problem with your life, you can stay at home and cry or you go outside and go to fight. If you go out to fight, you can solve things in the next minutes or next day.

“This is what we must go to do. We must go to fight.

“We have not lost abilities or commitment or absolutely anything. I believe the commitment is more strong.

“We feel hurt, but we have a game against Birmingham which is the most important of the season. I do not believe the last game will affect us. Our team usually react very fast and very quickly after defeat.”

Last six games: Birmingham LLLLLD; Sheffield Wednesday LDWWDL.

Referee: S Martin (Staffordshire).

Last time: Birmingham 2 Sheffield Weds 1, September 17, 2016; Championship.