Sheffield Weds 1 Nottm Forest 0: Owls are still the outsiders claims Carvalhal

It was the first false step the Portuguese has made in weeks at Sheffield Wednesday.

Ten games unbeaten, through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup and now just one point adrift of the play-offs – Carvalhal appears to possess the football equivalent of the Midas touch right now.

Take the most recent game in that unbeaten run. Wednesday, fresh from that remarkable victory over Arsenal, had been labouring for the best part of an hour in a classic case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ when Carvalhal signalled a change.

Off went defensive midfielder Jose Semedo and on came striker Lucas Joao as part of a re-jig that saw Fernando Forestieri move to the left of an attack-minded formation that also featured Atdhe Nuhiu and the substitute.

The impact? Twelve minutes later, Forestieri was able to collect the ball 25 or so yards from goal before showing neat footwork to leave a couple of Forest players trailing.

He then looked up briefly before unleashing a shot that Dimitar Evtimov made a hash of trying to stop and the Owls had a lead that was never going to be wasted.

It had been far from a classic and Forest had squandered perhaps the best chance of the afternoon when Jamie Ward headed wide shortly before the interval.

But, crucially, Carvalhal’s men had the points and further proof that this is a side capable of grinding out the wins necessary to keep pace in a promotion race.

Carvalhal, for his part, continues to play down Wednesday’s chances. “We are outsiders,” said the 49-year-old shortly before stumbling over that stray chair leg on his way out of the post-match Press conference. “Completely outsiders.”

No-one, though, is fooled. Not any more. Wednesday have taken 18 points from a possible 24 during a run that has also seen Arsenal and Newcastle United humbled by the Championship outfit.

The Owls may not yet be the finished article but, following the arrival of Gary Hooper on loan from Norwich City last week, there is no glaring weakness in a squad that now runs to 31 names on the back of the match-day programme.

A big test awaits tomorrow night when unbeaten leaders Brighton & Hove Albion head to S6. Next month will also bring meetings with Derby County, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough.

Few, though, would bet against Wednesday being able to maintain a momentum that has been building since the resumption of the Championship after the September international break.

Carvalhal’s men actually lost that first game, away to Burnley. But debuts for Forestieri, Barry Bannan and Daniel Pudil plus a stirring performance that merited a point suggested Wednesday were on the right track.

That belief has been justified by the club not having lost since that trip to Turf Moor and if Brighton can be beaten for the first time this season tomorrow night then an even bigger pinch of salt will be needed to accompany Carvalhal’s protestations about whether his side are ready.

“We are not favourites,” he said. “The favourites are the teams that were relegated (last season).

“The favourites are the teams who have big budgets and buy big players, they have also had the same coaches for two or three years.”

The two stars that can be found on Forest’s badge are a nod to the back-to-back European Cups won by Brian Clough.

For much of the opening hour or so at Hillsborough, however, ‘two-star’ just about summed up proceedings with the levels of endeavour from both teams not being matched by quality.

The first half, in particular, was drab. Dougie Freedman’s visitors had the best chance of those opening 45 minutes when sublime skill out wide by Pinillos allowed the Spaniard to whip in a cross that Ward failed to head in. Forest’s best chance of claiming what would have been a fourth straight win at Hillsborough was gone.

The hosts also spurned a gilt-edged opportunity of their own in the first half. Bannan’s slide-rule pass created the opening for Kieran Lee but the midfielder’s poor final touch allowed Evtimov to race from his line and block.

Evtimov, making only his second senior appearance for Forest, also kept out Pudil’s follow-up and it looked like being the Bulgarian’s afternoon until, on 68 minutes, he allowed Forestieri to settle the contest.

“I am so happy,” said the Italian, who has four goals from eight appearances since joining for £3m from Watford, who he heklped to promotion last season.

“I hope there are more goals to come. As a team, we are working hard and helping each other.

“Everyone is happy in the dressing room. Before the match, the coach told us we had to play with our heart. Don’t relax.

“When the moment is good and people relax, that is when you can lose. I enjoy working with the coach. He has a lot of passion.

“When we played Arsenal and Newcastle, he changed a lot. The good thing is he gives everyone a chance. He speaks with everyone and helps every single player out. I think he is very important to the group.

“It is easy to say something because everything is good. The last month has been unbelievable. But when we have a bad moment, we have to stay strong.”