Reaction From Owls Boss Alan Irvine

Last updated : 12 September 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Alan Irvine
Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield and his club's official website about his side's 1-0 defeat at home to Carlisle, Irvine suggesting that the Owls got careless after dominating the early stages of the game :


" Obviously very disappointed with the result, I thought that we started the game very well. The first 20-25 minutes we were very dominant and then we got careless, and as the game went on we became more and more complacent. During that period we allowed Carlisle to get a foothold in the game, we gave away needless set-pieces and that created a bit of momentum for them.

" We then made some poor decisions and we missed chances certainly to clear the ball more effectively than we had done, and that resulted in the goal. From there it was always going to be more difficult in what was already a difficult game. We responded in a way and we certainly had plenty of possession, but I didn't feel that we looked as if we were going to score many goals.

" It is very frustrating and very disappointing because obviously we have proven that the quality is there, but it hasn't been in evidence in the last two games. We have got to the final third on many, many occasions in both games but our final cross, pass, decision, or our final finish hasn't been what it was in the previous games.

" We never really tested their goalkeeper and that's always disappointing when you're the home side. We had the ball in their half for large periods in the second half but just couldn't seem to find that killer pass. "



" I didn't think we struggled to adapt to their diamond at the beginning, we thought that in the first 20 minutes we were making great use of the sides. But then for whatever reason, and I need to get to the bottom of that, we stopped doing what we had proven to be very effective for 20 minutes or so.

" That is extremely disappointing because we knew their system, we knew how they would set out to play, we did a lot of work on it during the week and we went into the game employing the tactics that we had worked on. But, there was something, well, I have got more than ideas about what happened and we have to make sure that these things don't happen again.

" Things didn't seem to change that much after the break, so we changed the shape and then a little later the personnel. Without a doubt every time that you don't perform as a footballer then your place is in jeopardy. I have to look at the game again as I always do and make the decisions on who I think would be the best players to play next week against Plymouth.

" I have said before that if you don't perform well then you are in danger of losing your place, and if you lose your place and the other person does well then it might take you a while to get it back.

" I don't want to react too quickly, I will look at the game again, I will do that calmly and without emotion, that is obviously involved when you are watching a game at the time, and I will make assessments on what I think we need to do better. We've got to learn a lesson from games like these. If you get sloppy you're going to get punished, and that's what has happened this afternoon. "



" We found out yesterday that Neil Mellor has got tonsillitis, so he was ill. I would expect that he will be OK for next weekend, but that was it. There was nothing we could do about it, nothing he could do about it, he has been unwell for a couple of days.

" There is absolutely nothing whatsoever in the rumour that we can't pay his loan wages, that is not an issue at all as far as I am aware. Neil has simply not been here because he is ill and he is in bed.

" I think the happenings behind the scenes would be a very easy excuse for me to use for today, but it is not one that I want to use. I don't really think that it should have a bearing, we have trained as we normally do, and we have prepared for the game as we normally do.

" Yes, there was a bit of talk in the dressing room and on the training ground in the earlier part of the week but I don't like making excuses. Things that happen off the pitch shouldn't really have too much of a bearing on the pitch.