Sheffield Wednesday dropped points against Cardiff City at the weekend, and the reason is pretty clear when you look at the statistics.
Danny Rohl had been hoping his side could bounce back from the Steel City derby defeat before the international break, but Sheffield Wednesday could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff on Saturday.
Despite controlling possession for much of the game and creating a slew of chances, the Owls were once again wasteful in front of goal and let their opportunities slip by.
While Rohl’s tactical decisions and substitutions have been questioned, there is one big issue the Sheffield Wednesday manager needs to address as a priority.
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Sheffield Wednesday lost control of the game in second half
Looking at the statistics from Sheffield Wednesday’s draw with Cardiff City, it’s abundantly obvious that the Owls took their foot off the gas in the second half.
Wednesday fell behind in the first half, but quickly got themselves level and looked to be in complete control of the game heading into the break.
| Statistic | SWFC 1st half | Cardiff 1st half | SWFC 2nd half | Cardiff 2nd half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possession | 60% | 40% | 63% | 37% |
| xG | 2.29 | 0.92 | 0.49 | 0.33 |
| Big chances | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total shots | 10 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Passes | 282 | 188 | 253 | 154 |
But, after the interval, Rohl’s side created far less chances and took less shots, while also completing less passes and allowing Cardiff to play the ball around more.
Wednesday did slightly improve their possession figures in the second 45 at Hillsborough, but that superiority was not meaningful enough to lead to any kind of game-changing moment.
Indeed, it is that severe drop in xG, big chances created, and shots in general that will be a real concern for Wednesday, and proves the S6 outfit are clearly struggling to maintain their intensity levels after half-time.
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Hull City will punish Sheffield Wednesday if they stand off
Away from home against a gritty Hull City side, Sheffield Wednesday will need to be at their best to come away from the MKM Stadium with a win on Tuesday night.
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards has highlighted just how tough and restrictive Hull are this season, after his side managed a narrow 1-0 win against the Tigers at the weekend.
That style of play is Rohl’s worst nightmare, in truth, with his Wednesday side always struggling against more compact, low-block teams.
The key to winning against Hull tonight for the Sheffield Wednesday players, then, will be to make a bright start, get the crowd behind them, and make sure they do not let up in the second half to kill the game.