Gabriel Otegbayo absence explained with Sheffield Wednesday tactical admission made
Sheffield Wednesday fell to a lacklustre 4-1 defeat at Oxford United on Saturday - with a near ever-present defender left out of the matchday squad.
Young Sheffield Wednesday defender Gabriel Otegbayo was a notable miss-out of a poor afternoon for the Owls as they fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat at fellow relegated side Oxford United.
The Republic of Ireland youth international has played almost every minute of the last few months at the heart of Henrik Pedersen’s defence but did not feature owing to fatigue in his calf. Pedersen had warned that one of his Owls players was a doubt for the clash in the days after defeat at Middlesbrough.
Otegbayo made a costly error at the Riverside but his absence was not linked, with the Danish coach making clear it was hoped a minor issue in a tired calf would be cleared-up in time for him to feature in the final day season closer against West Brom next weekend.
“Yes, let's see,” he said when asked whether Otegbayo was expected to feature at S6. “Gab is hopefully back for Saturday’s game. He was out with an injury today. But I hope he will come back. So let's see. I don't know when we are coming so far. It is not serious. More fatigue, I think is the word. So we hope he can be a part again for next Saturday.”
Pedersen told media post-match that he felt his side had fallen below the standards that they had come to expect of themselves in the last few weeks. Battling efforts including a run of three draws had built momentum for the crisis-stricken side, but a poor showing at the Kassam Stadium proved a disappointment.
The Wednesday boss admitted they had been surprised by aspects of Oxford’s tactical approach. The U’s had been relegated before kick-off by virtue of results elsewhere and will join the Owls in League One next season.
“We had not expected they would play so many short passes,” Pedersen said. “Normally it's a very direct team with a lot of long balls. Today they played very few long balls. There was a big freedom for them.
“Our pressing in the first half was not how we want to be from the intensity but also tactically. I think in the second half we had control of our pressing. We made some adjustments. There was also more intensity in the second half for our pressing. We also created chances too. But of course when you concede four goals, it's also difficult to win.
“So today we didn't deserve it.”