Fresh Massimo Luongo injury confirmed after Sheffield Wednesday's miserable 4-1 defeat at Millwall
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The Owls enjoyed a comfortable first half hour and took the lead through Callum Paterson, but a penalty given away by Joey Pelupessy proved to be a turning point when former Wednesday target Kenneth Zohore netted the spot kick.
The second half was something of a procession for the hosts, who recorded only their second home win of the season.
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Hide AdThompson, who was measured in his summation of a frustrating afternoon in South London, confirmed that midfield battler Luongo, out for much of the season with a knee injury, sustained a further muscle injury in training this week.
The club are hoping he won’t be out for too long but the true extent of the injury remains to be seen.
“He tweaked his thigh on Thursday in training, hopefully it’s not too bad, but we’ll have to reassess him and see where he’s at,” he said.
“It’s disappointing for him because he’s been chomping at the bit and he’s worked his way back from injury. So to pick up another injury is frustrating for both him and us.”
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Hide AdAnother omission from the matchday squad was Derby-owned striker Jack Marriott. Paterson, who netted his seventh goal of the season with a determined scramble, started up top with Elias Kachunga, while there were second-half run-outs for Josh Windass and Jordan Rhodes.
On Marriott, Thompson said: “He had one or two little issues he’s had to deal with, and I can only bring so many people down here.”
The result keeps Wednesday three points from safety. They face what could be a season-defining game against Wycombe at Hillsborough on Tuesday evening.
Asked why there was such a disparity between the Wednesday performance in the first and second half, Thompson said: “That’s football. You look up and down the Championship, in the Premier League, up and down the leagues, it happens every week.
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Hide Ad“The other team are allowed to play and they played today to their strengths and we were at it second half, but in my time as caretaker we’ve given as good as we’ve got.
“We’ve got to regroup and go again on Tuesday.”