Yan Valery error verdict as Danny Röhl describes 'strange' Sheffield Wednesday defeat to Burnley
Danny Röhl spoke in support of Yan Valery after a footwork error allowed Burnley to open the scoring in a 2-0 defeat for Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The Tunisia international was unable to clear a ball into defence, with Clarets forward Jaidon Anthony the grateful recipient as he went through to score his first goal for his new loan club. Wednesday had bright moments in the match but big moments went against them before Josh Brownhill capped an excellent performance to put the game to bed.
Röhl was philosophical about the freak error and expressed a degree of satisfaction with the performance between the boxes - though the big moments cost them dear. He also registered a whiff of offside in the build up to Brownhill’s match-settling strike.
“It happens. It is football and it happens,” Röhl said on Valery’s mistake. “It can happen in every position and if it happens in the last line it can be a big chance for the opponent or a conceded goal. If you miss a chance in front there is often another one, the outcome is not the same as in defence.
“We just move on. It is not now that he is out or anything like this, no. We know this as a team. For the second goal we know we can defend better. I watched back, I don’t know if there is a touch between (for the second goal) then it would be offside for the striker. These are small things, they are not excuses. We did a good performance, not a great performance. A great performance means you take points.”
Burnley boss Scott Parker claimed post-match that he felt his side were always in control of the match, which saw Wednesday collect more touches in the penalty area and a better xG, though they were found wanting in the only stats column that matters. Röhl agreed with The Star’s approximation that it was an odd game in many respects - and hammered home the requirement for a sharper edge in the final third.
“It was strange. At the end you say it was more ‘in’, we created a lot of opportunities against a team that is very, very well organised. When you look at their other games you see they have a good structure against the ball, they are aggressive. We knew before that they don’t need so many chances for goals, the first conceded goal is not really their chance, it is a mistake from our side.
“We had good opportunities for different players and the biggest chance was before the half-time. But that’s football, these are what you need to take something from a strong side - and this team (Burnley) are top of the league. We invested a lot, it was a big game for both sides and I feel the supporters recognised we went to the end and tried and tried. To score and to take something, it is what we have to improve. That final pass again, the small moments... we need to be clinical in front. It’s hard to take, the performance is OK, but the outcome is not what I wanted.”