What Neil Thompson said about former Sheffield Wednesday star's late winner for Stoke City

Neil Thompson, the Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager, says his side were made to pay for a lapse in concentration which allowed former Owl Steven Fletcher to score Stoke City’s late winner at the Bet365 Stadium last night.
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Fletcher, who joined the Potters on a free transfer last summer after making more than 120 appearances in four years at Wednesday, secured all three points for Michael O’Neill’s men with a goal seven minutes from time.

The winner came about when the 33-year-old Scottish striker turned in a knock-down from a corner to end Stoke’s 10-game winless streak in the Championship.

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But the late blow left his former side in deep trouble in the relegation zone and facing the prospect of falling further behind if clubs around them win their games tonight.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Thompson couldn’t hide his disappointment at losing the game and how his side had allowed Fletcher time and space to scramble home the winner.

“First half was very nip and tuck and we were very disciplined,” said Thompson.

"I knew it would be a physical type of game but we didn’t have too many problems.

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“But in the second half we never got started. We sat back further and further and it was a sucker punch at the end.

Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher celebrates scoring Stoke City's winner against his old team-mates at the Bet365 Stadium last night. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher celebrates scoring Stoke City's winner against his old team-mates at the Bet365 Stadium last night. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Steven Fletcher celebrates scoring Stoke City's winner against his old team-mates at the Bet365 Stadium last night. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“You can’t give Stoke’s quality players that encouragement. I thought we’d weathered it and then you can’t lose (Steven) Fletcher in the box.”

Now Thompson will be hoping for a reaction when his side, which had won four of their previous six league games before last night, take on relegation rivals Birmingham City at Hillsborough on Saturday.

“We have to dust ourselves down and get on with it,” he said.

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“We have been inconsistent for a lot of the season and those performances keep creeping in. We didn’t ask enough questions of them and we have to bounce back quickly.”

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