Sheffield Wednesday: Owls boss bemoans ‘strange’ penalty count

Head coach Carlos Carvalhal is perplexed by the Owls’ low penalty count this season.
Carlos CarvalhalCarlos Carvalhal
Carlos Carvalhal

Wednesday, lying in seventh position after 19 Championship fixtures, have been awarded just one spot-kick during the 2015/16 campaign.

Striker Atdhe Nuhiu coolly slotted home from 12 yards in the Owls’ 2-1 triumph away to Brentford in September.

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In stark contrast, the Owls racked up seven penalties in their mid-table finish last year. Indeed, their last spot-kick at Hillsborough came against Leeds United last April.

Carvalhal, embarking on his first season in English football, claims Wednesday should have received “five or six” more penalties.

Criticising match officials is not the Portuguese chief’s style but he told The Star: “It is strange to me that we have still only had one penalty.

“I must tell you because I have seen a minimum of five or six. Near the area with defenders and attackers, we have tall players like [Atdhe] Nuhiu and [Lucas] Joao.

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“Sometimes I think the referee is confused with the body so the defences sometimes can do everything to our attackers but when the attackers touch the defenders, they give a foul. It is something that is a little strange to me. It is not a problem.”

While he has expressed his frustration over Wednesday’s lack of spot-kicks, Carvalhal insists he is impressed with the general standard of officiating in this country.

“I like the way they (the referees) drive the games in England,” he added. “Really I like it.”

Owls, without a victory in their last three outings, head to Cardiff City on Saturday knowing three points will see them leapfrog the Welsh club into sixth place.