Sheffield Wednesday gave ball away too easily, Henrik Pedersen admits – but at least they fought
Henrik Pedersen said Sheffield Wednesday gave the ball away too easily in their 3-0 defeat at home to Derby County but he was pleased to see the frustration in his players, even if it manifested itself in the wrong way at times.
The Owls were architects of their own downfall at Hillsborough, giving the ball away for both Patrick Agyemang’s goals. In between time, a frustrated Dominic Iorfa conceded a free-kick which ultimately led to Liam Thompson's goal after Max Lowe diverted Craig Forsyth's free-kick to him.
"It was a difficult evening where we didn't reach the same level as we have done the last three to four games," admitted Pedersen.
"It was an evening when we started the game well, we were on the ball a lot. Before the game we said if we just kicked the ball up to them we would have a challenge because they are so physically strong so we kept the ball on the floor – we wanted to play with them, we wanted to challenge them, we wanted to be very man-orientated, so we could attract them, so we could run with them, play around, play behind.
"That's why we gave them easy chances when we lost the ball easily.
"The first goal came after easy loss of the ball.
"This mix between keeping the ball and speeding up the game, getting behind them, we did it a few times but we could have done it much more.
"At 1-0 we came back in the game again, and it's still an equal game.
"We started the second half well and they scored the second goal from a set pieces after 62 minutes.
"After this you could see it was difficult for them, we lost the belief and that organisation a little bit.
"Then after 3-0, another transition goal, it was like we got energy again."
Derby manager John Eustace revealed his team were waiting for Wednesday to give the ball away at times.
"We have to be adaptable to lots of opposition who we play against," he said. "Sheffield Wednesday want to dictate play if they're given the opportunity. We felt we could exploit that a little bit today."
Charlie McNeill and Harry Amass picked up late bookings for fouls born out of frustration – Iorfa was booked less for the foul which led to Thompson's goal, more a skirmish with Agyemang which followed it.
Pedersen was not too downhearted at the yellow cards, even though his squad – depleted by Yan Valery's departure for the African Cup of Nations and about to be depleted by Sean Fusire's.
"Hey, if there was no reaction, we'll also be angry," reasoned Pedersen. "That there's a reaction, hey, it's okay. It's okay.
"If someone punishes us, we want to punish them back. And if we couldn't do it with good football and effective football, then we can do it with some bad tackles. I understand the frustration.
"They also all want to win a football game. They will do their best for the team, for each other, for the fans, for the club. So, of course, there'll be a frustration when we're 2-0 down or 3-0 down, because we want more."