Following today’s clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa, here are the instant reactions from both managers.
Sheffield Wednesday hosted Aston Villa at Hillsborough for a 3pm kick off on Saturday February 24, with the visitors taking a four two win on the day.
Sheffield Wednesday started the brighter and took the lead 14 minutes in through Sean Clare, but Lewis Grabban made it two in two for him as he dragged Villa level.
The hosts rallied and retook the lead through Lucas Joao in first half stoppage time but then Villa started to take control of the match.
With just over 20 minutes remaining Glenn Whelan scored his first goal for the club to tie the scores up and three minutes from time Conor Hourihane increased his account for the year to give the visitors the advantage.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Robert Snodgrass won a penalty and converted the chance to ensure Villa took all three points on the day.
Teams:
Sheff Wed:
Wildsmith, Venancio, Pudil, Fox, Hunt, Clare, Pelupessy, Reach, Boyd, Nuhiu, Lucas Joao.
Substitutes:
Jones, Rhodes, Butterfield, Loovens, Baker, Dawson, Stobbs.
Aston Villa:
Johnstone, El Mohamady, Chester, Terry, Hutton (Taylor 51), Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Onomah (Davis 60), Grabban, Hogan (Jedinak 83).
Substitutes:
Lansbury, Bjarnason, Hepburn-Murphy, Bunn.
Speaking to the BBC’s cameras a short time after match day referee Neil Swarbrick blew the final whistle, Sheffield Wednesday head coach Jos Luhukay explained.
‘We had a fantastic first half. We made good goals and we had two or three very good chances to come in more comfortable at half-time. In the second half, we lost that little bit of control we had in the first half and Aston Villa became stronger in this situation. At 2-2, we could have scored two times to make it 3-2. We know we must defend better, we know we didn’t have luck on our side today.’
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce in his comparative interview explained.
‘To have a group of players who are on the same hymn sheet as the supporters is important. For too long now, the supporters haven’t really associated with the team because of what’s happened to the club. I believe they’re enjoying watching the team now, there’s association with supporters and the team, which is important.’
