Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-0 away at Middlesbrough in the Championship on Monday.
Sheffield Wednesday retuned to action with a trip to Middlesbrough in the Championship on Easter Monday.
It comes after Danny Rohl‘s side marked the end of the international break with a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Swansea City last Friday.
The Owls largely dominated that game but couldn’t find a winner, though the game at the Riverside was a much different story.
Wednesday looked average throughout and barely troubled Seny Dieng in the Boro goal.
Middlesbrough were a goal in front at half-time thanks to an unfortunate Michael Ihiekwe own goal and they had plenty of chances soon after the restart.
Michael Carrick’s Boro eventually doubled their lead via another unfortunate deflection, this time off Barry Bannan, later missing a penalty as they won 2-0.
Middlesbrough 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday as Danny Rohl’s side go winless in four
Following a win of four games in a row, the Owls are now winless in four, losing three of those.
Many thought the Owls would bounce straight back from defeats vs Leeds United and then that 6-0 defeat vs Ipswich Town, though it’s been tough.
Sheffield Wednesday have had some tough opponents and they’ve not done themselves any favours with regards to defending either.
The defeat at Ipswich highlighted the defensive flaws and in particular an inability to defend from set-pieces, which is where Boro’s opener came from today.
Commenting on the matter, journalist Dom Howson posted on X:
Danny Rohl needs to hire a set-piece coach
Rohl recently spoke about hiring a set-piece coach but didn’t show much interest in the matter.
But the game at Middlesbrough once again highlights the need for one and maybe it’s something that Rohl and Dejphon Chansiri finally have to address in the summer.
Like Howson says, it’s been a common theme for the Owls this season, and if they had had a set-piece coach in from the start then they might have a lot more points on the board.
They could even have taken a point from Middlesbrough if they didn’t concede that opening goal, despite being on the back-foot throughout.
The Owls remain in 23rd and now two points from safety, with a crunch match vs QPR this weekend.