Wednesday pile on the pressure after Antonio ensures late twist

Winger Michail Antonio’s goal – five minutes into stoppage time against Carlisle United – closed the gap on second-placed Sheffield United to just one point with two games to play.

The Blades, who had to start life without striker Ched Evans following his five-year jail sentence for rape, lost 1-0 at Milton Keynes Dons.

“If we had not won and then seen the result of our neighbours, it would have killed us,” admitted Jones.

“They have still got the advantage and are at home next week (against Stevenage) when we are away (at Brentford) but we just have to continue to do our job and see where it leads us.”

Midfielder Chris Lines gave the Owls a half-time lead in Saturday’s game at Hillsborough but Carlisle briefly threatened to steal a point when James Berrett equalised eight minutes from time.

“It would have been a travesty if we had lost it or not come away with maximum points because I think we created over 20 chances,” said Jones. “If we had come in four or five goals up at half-time no one would have been surprised because it was one-way traffic.

“There was always the danger of what happened happening. That would have been so hard on us – but we kept going and got the rewards.”

Jones hailed the patience of the Owls supporters for pushing his side towards their potentially crucial victory.

“I have nothing but admiration for everybody who was in the stadium – players or fans,” he said. “We were all ‘one’ and we have got to maintain that mentality because it’s going to be nervous.

“The equaliser was a killer but the fans were superb. They got right behind everybody when it could have been easy to have a moan or a groan.

“When the six minutes for added time went up on the board then the whole place lifted, which was fantastic.

“We had chances that did not go in and some of them were tap-ins. Their goalkeeper had a stormer of a game, and there were last-ditch tackles, but we still went for the jugular.

“Things do cross your mind when they equalise so late on,” he admitted. “I was thinking about bringing off full-backs and putting on more strikers but you tend to lose your shape if you do that.

“I just thought we were creating enough from what we were doing. Sometimes you can make too many changes and it takes your rhythm away.

“We had rhythm and momentum, we just needed the composure that Michail showed to put the ball in the net.”

Looking ahead to the final two fixtures, Jones stressed that his side would still need favours from others if they were to pip their rivals to the second automatic promotion place.

“We have still got to hope United slip up,” he said. “It’s as simple as that because we are playing catch-up. They are still in the driving seat by one point.

“But, confidence wise, I don’t have to worry about anything because the players are enjoying training, what we are trying to do, and it’s coming together the way we want to play. I have no complaints on that score but maybe we just need to be more clinical in front of goal.”

The Owls are still unbeaten under Jones, picking up 26 points from a possible 30 since chairman Milan Mandaric decided to replace Gary Megson as manager last month.

Winner Antonio, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder injury prior to scoring and was unable to carry on after it was aggravated in his goal celebrations. Jones is optimistic that he will not miss the club’s remaining league fixtures against Brentford and Wycombe.

“I wish the lads hadn’t jumped on him when he scored,” he sighed. “He’s a bit sore and will be for a few days but we can inject it and kill it.”

For the second week in a row, Antonio was also involved in the major controversy of Wednesday’s afternoon. Denied a goal against Colchester by a questionable offside flag, the winger was sent tumbling by Carlisle defender Liam Noble when clean through on goal but referee Simon Hooper waved play on.

“If that’s not a foul and a sending off, I don’t know what is,” said Jones. “It was a big decision. This week it didn’t cost us but, last week, it cost us two points which would have made a massive difference to where we want to be.”