“He didn’t touch it” Nigel Pearson denies penalty and makes honest Sheffield Wednesday admission
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Wednesday, who were being overseen by assistant manager Jamie Smith with Darren Moore recovering from pneumonia in hospital, had the better of large portions of the game but were unable to extend a lead given to them by Julian Borner early doors.
The visiting Robins equalised through Tyreeq Bakinson in the 87th minute, leaving Wednesday seven points shy of the safety places with only four to play.
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Hide AdThe match could have swung in the Owls’ favour when Henri Lansbury was sent off in the 21st minute for what looked to be a deliberate handball, tipping the ball over the crossbar from Callum Paterson’s attempted shot.
Pearson said that refereeing decisions went against his side and that Lansbury didn’t touch the ball.
“He didn’t touch it,” Pearson said. “I understand why it was given because in real time it does look like that. These things happen and the players responded in the right way.
“We needed to show a lot of courage today collectively. I and other people have questioned our commitment at times, but I think today was a good example of the type of response we needed to give.
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Hide Ad“I’m not kidding myself, I know we could have been further behind but certainly decisions didn’t go away. The penalty is a good example of that.
“It’s a good moment for the players because they all contributed in a positive way. That’s important.”
With five minutes to go it felt as if new life would have been breathed into Wednesday’s failing survival bid. They Owls play fourth-bottom Derby County on the last day of the season and a win would have left them five points shy.
But Barkinson’s stunning late strike appears to have stunted any growing sense of optimism.
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Hide Ad“I feel for them,” Pearson said on the club he played at for seven years. “I still have a lot of fondness for the club. It’s a big part of both mine and my family’s life. I don’t get a lot of satisfaction to contributing to what is a difficult situation for them.”