Defensive problems mount for Sheffield Wednesday

Having only tasted victory at home once in 2020 – in February against Charlton Athletic – Garry Monk’s side looked set to double that tally, courtesy of Yoann Barbet’s own goal.

But when Tom Lees limped off in the closing stages – the Owls had already used all three substitutes with fellow defenders Liam Shaw and his replacement, Liam Palmer, also departing after the opening 45 minutes – to leave the hosts down to 10 men, Rangers grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser via the head of Macauley Bonne.

Dropping points in the opening month of the campaign is not fatal, but when you are scurrying to claw back a 12-point deficit for breaking financial fair play rules, surrendering two points here felt like a defeat.

“It’s devastating really,” said Owls midfielder Adam Reach.

“But we have to take the positives, it’s another point off that minus 12. Now we have a little break, get some rest and we just have to win the next game.

“We have been dealt a really bad hand this season, but it’s important we stick together. We have a bigger target than just one game this season.

“I think with the squad we have, we have more than enough to have a successful season.”

What constitutes a successful season will depend on how quickly they overturn that 12-point penalty – they have five points from their opening four games, heading into the international break, and will need a couple of new attacking players before the transfer deadline.

The opening 45 minutes on Saturday was a good advertisement for spending your afternoon at a garden centre.

Wednesday struggled to create a chance of note, and were indebted to a good piece of good fortune.

Ilias Chair’s corner found Geoff Cameron, and his flick hit the inside of the post before rolling back across goal and into the grateful arms of Owls goalkeeper Cameron Dawson.

Having already lost midfielder Izzy Brown (knee) and Dominic Iorfa (hamstring) before kick-off, the latter’s replacement, Shaw, lasted just five minutes before limping off with an ankle injury.

On came Palmer in his place, but a back problem saw the Scotland international fail to appear for the second half, meaning wing-back Moses Odubajo was forced into a makeshift back three.

So to lose Lees late on – meaning the Owls had lost four centre-halves to injury inside 24 hours – was a piece of ill-fortune.

To their credit, Wednesday improved in the second-half, and Reach – who impressed after being switched back to his best position as a left wing-back – played a key role in the goal.

The £5m former Middlesbrough man – whom Monk had unsuccessfully experimented playing as a striker, such were the Owls’ lack of forward options – got behind the defence and fired in a low cross.

Barbet, with Josh Windass loitering for a tap-in just behind, diverted the ball into his own net.

Wednesday were in control, and this was when they should have wrapped up victory with a second goal.

Kadeem Harris’s far-post cross was met by Reach – who has a catalogue of impressive goals – but his fierce volley was parried away by Seny Dieng.

Massimo Luongo, excellent against his former club in the heart of midfield, should have scored, too, but after creating space near the penalty spot, smashed his effort against the crossbar.

The 10-man Owls were punished deep into stoppage time when Barbet crossed and Bonne outjumped Joost van Aken to head in the equaliser.

“I thought we had a really good spell just after the goal, I had a chance and then Massimo hit the crossbar,” reflected Reach. “Some days those go in, some days they don’t and unfortunately it was the latter – and we got punished.

“It was a tough game, I thought it was scrappy, conditions weren’t great.

“Going down to 10 men I thought we showed real good character, great fight, great teamwork but, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough at the end.”

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Shaw (Palmer 5, Odubajo 45), Lees, Van Aken, Harris, Bannan, Luongo, Dele-Bashiru (Pelupessy 59), Reach, Windass, Paterson. Unused substitutes: Wildsmith, Rhodes, Waldock, Kachunga.

Queens Park Rangers: Dieng, Kakay, Dickie, Barbet, Wallace, Amos (Ball 73), Cameron, Osayi-Samuel, Chair, Carroll (Bonne 64), Dykes. Unused substitutes: Kane, Hamalainen, Bettache, Kelly, Smyth.

Referee: M Salisbury (Lancs).

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