The Owls were held to a draw by Cambridge United on Tuesday night

‘Frustrated’ interim boss Matt Hamshaw said Sheffield Wednesday’s players have ‘been through a lot’ since the sacking of Henrik Pedersen.

The Owls were ‘naive’ in their 1-1 draw against Cambridge United on Tuesday night, Hamshaw felt, but he also saw some positive signs. Mason Burstow fired them in front at Hillsborough in the second-half and he was then denied a second by a stunning save by Jake Eastwood which would have put them in a commanding position. And Cambridge made them pay when Sullay Kaikai drilled in a swift counter-attack.

Both sides could have won it. Barry Bannan hit the post for Wednesday, who had Ashley Maynard-Brewer to thank for some good saves. Hamshaw had sympathy for the players after a turbulent few days but still wanted more from them at times.

“Frustrating, I think, is the key word,” he explained. “I felt the first 10-15 minutes weren't good enough. I thought we were too lethargic, really, putting a foot on the ball at the back and not stepping in, and that wasn't the message to the players when we went out there. And then I thought half an hour after that, we looked like we were a good team again. I think, obviously, last week might have knocked the players a little bit, and they've been through a lot these last 48 hours, as we all have.

“But then I thought we looked like the team that we can be coming out that in the second half. And football's about moments. I think if Mason's opportunity goes in, the keeper makes a great save, it's a different game. I'm disappointed with their goal. I thought we should have handled it better at the edge of the box. Billy (Mitchell) should have done better in front of me here, and then we concede. We showed a good reaction, and at the end, when they're throwing balls in the box, the lads put their bodies on the line. I think at this moment, as always, it's frustration because we wanted three points tonight, and we just need to be a little bit better. “

Burstow’s blasted close-range looked destined to burst the net but Eastwood made a superb reaction save and that was a pivotal moment in the game as the visitors equalised soon after. The draw leaves Wednesday outside the play-offs after 12 games.

“I don't know how much he (Eastwood) knows about it, but it was an unbelievable save,” Hamshaw added. “He threw himself at it. I think if Mason’s probably not done it as clean as he has done, it goes in, and like I said, that's probably game over, and that's the frustration tonight. I just felt we needed that second goal, and it obviously it would have eased a bit of the pressure, not that I think Cambridge had much in the second half, and we almost brought it on ourselves.

“But I just thought during the game at times we're a bit naive. I think the ball went back, we didn't move up as a back four, things that we should be miles better at. There's a there's a lot to improve upon, there's a lot to work on, but I thought at times tonight the game we show you saw what we're capable of doing.”