May finds positives even after holders’ magnificent seven

GETTING hit for seven is no fun, as Sheffield Wednesday striker Stevie May made clear in the wake of their Capital One Cup defeat to Manchester City.
Owls' Stevie May challenges Manchester City's FernandinhoOwls' Stevie May challenges Manchester City's Fernandinho
Owls' Stevie May challenges Manchester City's Fernandinho

But, even after being on the end of a truly mesmerising second-half masterclass of finishing from the reigning Premier League champions, the summer arrival from St Johnstone admits he is relishing every aspect of his new life in England.

“I am loving it,” said May, who has a trio of goals to his name already for the Owls. “If I hadn’t have come down here, Tuesday night would have been Kilmarnock away for me.

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“That is why it is nice to go to places like Manchester City, even if the result is not what we wanted. It is a new stadium every week for me. I had never been (to the Eitihad) before and it gives you a taste of what it can be like.

“Hopefully, this can be just the start and I can kick on from here.”

May and his Wednesday team-mates have an early opportunity to banish the memory of the club’s 7-0 hammering to City.

Tomorrow brings a trip to Cardiff City, as the Owls look to maintain an impressive away record in the Championship that has yielded 10 points from four games.

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The Bluebirds, who want Scarborough-based Russell Slade to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will be keen to make amends for their own midweek exit in the Capital One Cup as Bournemouth romped to a 3-0 victory in South Wales.

For Wednesday, there were crumbs of comfort amid the wreckage of the second half at the Etihad that saw the hosts net seven times without reply.

In the first half, for instance, Stuart Gray’s matched the Cup holders admirably and fully deserved to be level at the break.

They could, in fact, have been ahead with Gary Madine missing an excellent opening in the sixth minute after being found unmarked just seven or eight yards from goal.

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May also had a shot that went just wide and the Scot insists the Owls must focus on the positives from Wednesday night.

He said: “The first half was pleasing and we went in with a lot of confidence at the break. We had limited them to very little and played well ourselves.

“Our passing was good, though we maybe had got a bit slack towards the end of the first half. But I still thought we were okay.

“The second half, though, was totally different. They came out very strong and showed what a good team they are. The red card made it that bit harder as well.

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“As the goals went in, we just wanted it to end. Mind, I can’t actually imagine they had a lot more than seven shots and all of them went in the corner. Credit to their finishing but we gave them too much time in the wrong areas. You can’t let players like (Frank) Lampard and the others do that or you will be punished.”