Sheffield Wednesday face ‘ups and downs’ in fight to avoid relegation, warns Danny Rohl

Wednesday are nine points adrift of Championship safety – Huddersfield Town in 21st place – following the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Coventry City.

The feel-good factor of winning three out of four games – cutting the deficit from 12 points to six – has been dented by back-to-back losses.

But as the Owls prepare for Friday’s trip to Preston North End, Owls boss Rohl says his team must create a “new momentum”.

If that is to start at Deepdale, Wednesday must do so without Callum Paterson (concussion) and the suspended Bambo Diaby. The latter was sent off after the final whistle for an off-the-ball incident with Coventry’s Liam Kitching, who was also red carded.

“We will miss two more players now,” Rohl said. “Callum is injured and will be out the next games I think.

“Then we got the red card too so, yes, it is hard.

“It is normal to have emotions in the game, the game was played fairly so it’s hard to see the red cards at the end and now we have the player out.

“But, ok, we have to go forward and do it again and create a new momentum.

“It’s not a straight forward process, you won’t just have ups, there will be ups and downs.

“It is disappointing today, we didn’t take anything and we have to accept this but now it is about recovery and preparing for the next game.”

Diaby will also miss the New Year’s Day visit of Yorkshire rivals Hull City to Hillsborough and the FA Cup game with Cardiff City on January 6.

With a depleted squad, and some players who obviously do not feature in Rohl’s plans, the January transfer window will be key if Wednesday are to survive this season.

Teenager Bailey Cadamartari has netted three times since being plunged into the starting line-up, but is in dire need of support up front with experienced forwards Lee Gregory, Michael Smith and Josh Windass all sidelined for differing reasons.