Henrik Pedersen reveals key improvements behind Sheffield Wednesday's mini unbeaten run
Sheffield Wednesday fought back to extend their unbeaten run to three matches with a 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Henrik Pedersen believes Sheffield Wednesday have shown signs of encouragement at both ends of the pitch in recent matches after extending their mini unbeaten run to three games.
The Owls earned a first come-from-behind point since September on Saturday afternoon, drawing 1-1 with Charlton Athletic at Hillsborough. Defender Gabriel Otegbayo steered home a second half leveller after Matt Godden had given the visitors the lead shortly after half-time.
Pedersen’s side went into the clash with the Londoners hungry to build on their 0-0 draw with Coventry City last time out and attempt to avoid going a full calendar year without recording a home win. They dominated the ball for long spells of the second half, putting plenty of pressure on Charlton’s rearguard, but they were unable to find the second goal they craved so dearly.
Although Wednesday now find themselves on a record-breaking 37-game winless run, surpassing the previous record of 36 set by Derby County almost 20 years ago, Pedersen has seen progress in his side’s recent outings, admitting they have become “difficult to play against”.
Pedersen said: “I think that the culture is very, very strong with those young boys, and I think we are defensively very, very solid.
“We are difficult to play against, and I also think that we start to be better and better on the ball. In the last two games against Leicester and Coventry, yes, we defended a lot, but we also played both games.
“We had courage on the ball and to keep the ball, and we didn't just kick the ball away to survive. No, we had some transitions and we had more time. But you can see also against Coventry, against Leicester, that the build-up phase, we start to be better and better, to break the first-pressing line, we come higher and higher up on the pitch, so it also makes me happy to see.”
Following the stalemate with Nathan Jones’ side, Wednesday have just one chance remaining to avoid going an entire season without recording a home win. Nevertheless, Pedersen has refused to criticise his players after fighting back to earn a share of the spoils on Saturday afternoon.
“I think the boys felt also before the goals that we were good in the game,” added the Dane. “It was strong that we keep on going, we find ourselves very quickly and come back in the game.
“So, yes, a good mentality again from the boys, and strong in this part of the season with our past that we keep on going, no evaluation, just next action, and then get a draw. But we want more, we want to have a win.”