Can we just end games at 75 minutes, please? – The Heroes and Villains as the Owls are hit with a gut punch against QPR at Hillsborough

It looked like Sheffield Wednesday’s homeground hoodoo was finally coming to an end, but at a wet Hillsborough on Saturday night, a 10-man Owls were sucker punched.
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Garry Monk’s Wednesday came out fighting in the second half after what was a very drab opening 45 minutes, and were deserving of their opening goal when Yoann Barbet turned the ball home and stopped Josh Windass adding to his tally for the campaign.

But who were the heroes and villains at S6?

The Australian was in top form against Bristol City despite the 2-0 defeat last weekend, and he carried on exactly where he left off against his former employers on Saturday.

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He won tackles (some big ones, too!), stopped attacks and made some crucial interceptions as he put in another fine performance for SWFC, although he will have one regret after crashing his effort against the crossbar at 1-0. Had he scored, it would’ve been game over.

That shouldn’t take away from his efforts though, as he continues to thrive as a defensive midfielder.

Lees until…

Sheffield Wednesday almost got the job done against QPR. (Pic Steve Ellis)Sheffield Wednesday almost got the job done against QPR. (Pic Steve Ellis)
Sheffield Wednesday almost got the job done against QPR. (Pic Steve Ellis)

It was such a pity that Tom Lees wasn’t able to continue after picking up a knock… Firstly, he was really good once again for the Owls. He marshalled the defence well and continues to look like the Lees of old.

The injury, however, is a concern in terms of his availability going forward, but also because if he doesn’t get injured then there would be less injury time, and also I don’t think that equaliser goes in with him on the pitch.

The international break!

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Usually the international break is frowned upon by lots of football fans, but this time around it’s doing the Owls a big favour considering all the injuries that have come out of nowhere, really.

Wednesday have had a great injury record this season, but everything seems to have hit them at once. The timing of this break will at least give them chance to get some of them fit, with the likes of Dominic Iorfa, Izzy Brown and Lees probably sitting at the top of the priority list.

And the villain?

Since the start of last season, Wednesday have conceded a total of 21 goals after the 75th minute of games - a tally only ‘bettered’ by Hull City (22) - and it was yet another occasion when they dropped points from a winning position.

This time felt different, though… I didn’t have the same sense of foreboding as I’ve had in the past, and I really do feel like the benefit of the doubt should be given after they had to change the right centre back - Iorfa to Shaw, Shaw to Palmer, Palmer to Odubajo - three times for the same game. Especially when Callum Paterson even ended up as a centre back following Lees’ injury.

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This time, given the circumstances, it’s no train smash… But if things continue in the same trend as last season though, then it’s a worry, and Monk will be hoping to use the international break to make sure that he can get three points against his former employers, Birmingham City, in a couple of weeks’ time.

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