Sheffield Wednesday guilty of sitting back and inviting Stoke City on, laments Neil Thompson

Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Neil Thompson declared himself disappointed as the Owls fell to a goal from their former striker at Stoke City on Tuesday night.
Despair for Sheffield Wednesday's Chey Dunkley after defeat at Stoke City (Picture: Steve Ellis)Despair for Sheffield Wednesday's Chey Dunkley after defeat at Stoke City (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Despair for Sheffield Wednesday's Chey Dunkley after defeat at Stoke City (Picture: Steve Ellis)

The Potters edged Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at the Bet365 Stadium thanks to Steven Fletcher’s 84th-minute strike.

It was their first success since December 19 and gave their promotion hopes a shot in the arm.

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The sides had shared a goalless draw at Hillsborough in November and this encounter looked to be heading the same way as a lack of quality told in front of goal.

Despair for Keiren Westwood and Tom Lees at full-time (Picture: Steve Ellis)Despair for Keiren Westwood and Tom Lees at full-time (Picture: Steve Ellis)
Despair for Keiren Westwood and Tom Lees at full-time (Picture: Steve Ellis)

After an even first half, Stoke dominated the second but wasted their opportunities.

Owls goalkeeper Keiren Westwood stopped a Powell effort from point-blank range and Tom Lees blocked when Fletcher looked poised to score.

Allen should have broken the deadlock on the hour but sidefooted the ball wide and time began to run out.

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But the clincher came when Fletcher swivelled in the box to prod home from close range.

Stoke goalkeeper Angus Gunn held a Jordan Rhodes header in injury time to leave the Owls in the Championship drop zone.

Wednesday caretaker manager Neil Thompson said: “I’m very disappointed.

“First half was very nip and tuck and we were very disciplined. I knew it would be a physical type of game but we didn’t have too many problems.

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“But in the second half we never got started. We sat back further and further and it was a sucker punch at the end.

“You can’t give Stoke’s quality players that encouragement. I thought we’d weathered it and then you can’t lose (Steven) Fletcher in the box.

“We have to dust ourselves down and get on with it.

“We have been inconsistent for a lot of the season and those performances keep creeping in. We didn’t ask enough questions of them and we have to bounce back quickly.”

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