“It looks offside…” - Sheffield Wednesday’s stand-in manager comments on Watford’s controversial winner

Smith, who was called upon after Moore tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, said after the game that he had told the players he was disappointed not to have at least picked up a point, and he also gave his thoughts on the Hornets’ controversial winner.

It was Tom Lees turning the ball into his own net that ultimately gave the hosts the victory, but Smith says that he felt it shouldn’t have stood – even before the ball made its way through to Lees.

Ismaila Sarr appeared to be offside in the build-up to the goal before crossing to an offside Isaac Success, however the goal stood because it never reached the forward.

Smith, who may well be in charge against Cardiff City on Monday as well, gave his thoughts after the final whistle, saying, “I’ve had a brief look at it, I need to look a bit more closely, but it looks offside… The first pass into Sarr looks offside. I’m not sure on the bits after that, but the first bit looked offside.

“The officials didn’t mention the first bit, but with the cross because it’s gone in off Leesy they’re saying it’s a goal. But if the player wasn’t there then Leesy wouldn’t touch it, but it’s the rules I suppose.

“It’s the first pass that we’ve looked at though, and that looks offside - like I say though, I need a look a bit more closely.

“But if Leesy doesn’t go for the cross then the player taps it in…”

Success was clearly in an offside position when the ball was played, but whether or not he was judged to be interfering with play enough for a freekick is now irrelevant as the Owls deal with another defeat.

Now they move onto another tough task against Cardiff in a couple of days, and will be desperate to try and bounce back in order to give themselves a fighting chance of Championship survival.