Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Derby County: Rooney’s Rams lose at Hillsborough

Sheffield Wednesday snapped Derby boss Wayne Rooney’s one-game loss streak in nine games when Owls deputy boss Neil Thompson won the battle of the two keepers at Hillsborough.

That made Thompson win two out of two since he took office. the firing of Tony Pulis on Monday.

Having started the season with a 12-point deduction for breaking EFL spending rules, which was cut in half on appeal in November, Wednesday’s sixth win of the season lifts them above Derby and knocks them out of the last three of the Championship for the first time. until 20.

Three of those six league wins came on a four-game unbeaten streak, the Owls getting four points in the last two games with Pulis in charge.

Substitute Jordan Rhodes was stripping himself to be ready to come in and replace Paterson when the winning goal came in.

Derby was unable to clear Barry Bannan’s free throw, and in the resulting fight, Paterson nodded for his fourth goal of the season, and his second in as many games. And Rhodes had to wait another 11 minutes before that change was finally made.

The Rams had more possession and better chances throughout the 90 minutes, drawing closer when Colin Kazim-Richards hit the crossbar in the first half.

The Owls improved after the break and visibly increased their confidence after moving on.

But Derby was aggrieved after referee Matt Donohue denied him a late penalty, for a blatant handoff against Kadeem Harris, a decision that would undoubtedly have been overturned by the video assistant referee had this been a Premier League game.

This was Derby’s fourth loss since Philip Cocu’s departure in mid-November, but only the second in nine games since Rooney took sole responsibility, after losing his first two matches immediately after Cocu’s expulsion.

The only other loss in Rooney’s nine-game streak at sole command came on Boxing Day. home to preston, making it the Rams’ second Christmas setback in three games, on either side of a remarkable 4-0 victory at Birmingham.

Owls head of care Neil Thompson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

“We weren’t in the first half. That was pretty obvious. The guys looked a little leggy from all the games we’ve had over this four or five week span. And we were lucky.

“But we talked to one or two at halftime and we got a reaction. They were more positive, they entrenched themselves and they gave everything they had.

“Callum stuck his head where it hurts and he gave us something to hold onto. Six points give us something to move forward into the new year.”

Rams acting boss Wayne Rooney told BBC Radio Derby:

“It is clear that it was a penalty. The fourth official has clearly seen that it is a penalty.

“I am asking why there is no communication between the fourth official and the referee.

“The referee can’t see everything. I get it. But it’s disappointing that they didn’t give it.”