Laws delighted with response
Posted on: Sat 17 Oct 2009
Brian Laws was delighted with his side's performance in the 2-0 win over Coventry City on Saturday.
The Owls boss was particularly pleased with the way his team responded after a 3-0 reverse at Derby County last time out.
A headed goal inside four minutes and a Leon Clarke penalty put Wednesday 2-0 up before the break but a couple of key decisions from the officials came under close scrutiny from Coventry manager, Chris Coleman.
"I thought it was a great first half performance, we deserved the two-goal lead and could have had scored more so in terms of a response they ticked all of the boxes. The second half was a workman-like performance to make sure we secured the result," Laws said.
"Coventry were always going to try to get a goal and open us up more after the break but I thought we defended well as a team without having to play well in the second half.
"I was really delighted for the players, particularly the captain, Darren Purse, who has come in for a lot of criticism. He's had a lot to bear on his shoulders over the past two weeks and you can't ask for much from him than to get the first goal - he was outstanding and didn't put a foot wrong. Darren has answered a few critics in that respect and he will want to put in a few more performances like that. The main thing though, was that he responded and justified being in the team.
Wednesday's lead looked to be threatened in first half stoppage time when Lee Grant scrambled to keep a deflected Leon Best effort out. The Coventry players protested to the referee that the ball had crossed the line but Laws believed the officials made the right decision.
"We have a camera that is on this side of the field and it shows there is no way the linesman should give the ball as being over the line," Laws stated. "Granty smothered it and wedged it against the post so there is no way the official could have adjudged it over the line because it certainly didn't appear to from the angle I have seen."
It was not an isolated incidence of controversy but Laws also commended the referee for reversing a second half decision to award the Sky Blues a penalty.
"I think the biggest decision was regarding an outstanding tackle from Tommy Spurr," the Wednesday manager said. "The referee was the wrong side and initially gave a penalty but again the assistant referee said it was a fair challenge and a good challenge and you have to applaud the officials for that because it is a brave decision.
"Coventry might have felt hard done by with that decision and when you make a challenge like that you take a risk so it is vital to take the ball cleanly so I have to say well done to the player too."
Laws was pleased with the players who came into the team and will monitor his injury situation closely ahead of Tuesday night's visit of Preston North End.
"Luke Varney and Leon Clarke paired up very well together up front and worked hard. They pressed Coventry's back four very hard and were very creative.
"Marcus Tudgay's neck problem has kept him out of the team but there would be a risk in playing him at this stage and we were only getting about 50 per cent out of him in the last couple of games and if we want to get the best out of any player he has to be performing at 100 per cent. Hopefully we will get him closer to the team selection for Tuesday, as is also the case with Richard Wood, who has been sick but also had a minor ankle injury. Etienne Esajas is also ill and picked up a knock on his knee so decisions had to be made and the players out there all responded.
"Jermaine Johnson did well coming back into the side and kept their defenders on the back foot. His end product was a bit wayward today but he certainly caused Coventry plenty of problems.
"On the whole I was very pleased because we showed we could play good football in the first half and we showed we could grind out a result in the second half."
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Back the Bid! Sheffield is gearing up for a share of World Cup glory and is urging the people of Sheffield to register their support for Sheffield to become a host city.
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The Owls boss was particularly pleased with the way his team responded after a 3-0 reverse at Derby County last time out.
A headed goal inside four minutes and a Leon Clarke penalty put Wednesday 2-0 up before the break but a couple of key decisions from the officials came under close scrutiny from Coventry manager, Chris Coleman.
"I thought it was a great first half performance, we deserved the two-goal lead and could have had scored more so in terms of a response they ticked all of the boxes. The second half was a workman-like performance to make sure we secured the result," Laws said.
"Coventry were always going to try to get a goal and open us up more after the break but I thought we defended well as a team without having to play well in the second half.
"I was really delighted for the players, particularly the captain, Darren Purse, who has come in for a lot of criticism. He's had a lot to bear on his shoulders over the past two weeks and you can't ask for much from him than to get the first goal - he was outstanding and didn't put a foot wrong. Darren has answered a few critics in that respect and he will want to put in a few more performances like that. The main thing though, was that he responded and justified being in the team.
Wednesday's lead looked to be threatened in first half stoppage time when Lee Grant scrambled to keep a deflected Leon Best effort out. The Coventry players protested to the referee that the ball had crossed the line but Laws believed the officials made the right decision.
"We have a camera that is on this side of the field and it shows there is no way the linesman should give the ball as being over the line," Laws stated. "Granty smothered it and wedged it against the post so there is no way the official could have adjudged it over the line because it certainly didn't appear to from the angle I have seen."
It was not an isolated incidence of controversy but Laws also commended the referee for reversing a second half decision to award the Sky Blues a penalty.
"I think the biggest decision was regarding an outstanding tackle from Tommy Spurr," the Wednesday manager said. "The referee was the wrong side and initially gave a penalty but again the assistant referee said it was a fair challenge and a good challenge and you have to applaud the officials for that because it is a brave decision.
"Coventry might have felt hard done by with that decision and when you make a challenge like that you take a risk so it is vital to take the ball cleanly so I have to say well done to the player too."
Laws was pleased with the players who came into the team and will monitor his injury situation closely ahead of Tuesday night's visit of Preston North End.
"Luke Varney and Leon Clarke paired up very well together up front and worked hard. They pressed Coventry's back four very hard and were very creative.
"Marcus Tudgay's neck problem has kept him out of the team but there would be a risk in playing him at this stage and we were only getting about 50 per cent out of him in the last couple of games and if we want to get the best out of any player he has to be performing at 100 per cent. Hopefully we will get him closer to the team selection for Tuesday, as is also the case with Richard Wood, who has been sick but also had a minor ankle injury. Etienne Esajas is also ill and picked up a knock on his knee so decisions had to be made and the players out there all responded.
"Jermaine Johnson did well coming back into the side and kept their defenders on the back foot. His end product was a bit wayward today but he certainly caused Coventry plenty of problems.
"On the whole I was very pleased because we showed we could play good football in the first half and we showed we could grind out a result in the second half."
Register your support on the England 2018 website to bring the FIFA World Cup to England in 2018 and Back the Bid to see World Cup games hosted in Sheffield.
Back the Bid! Sheffield is gearing up for a share of World Cup glory and is urging the people of Sheffield to register their support for Sheffield to become a host city.
We want to show the world that the people of Sheffield are fanatical about football and passionate about bringing the FIFA World Cup to England in 2018. Every fan in the country has a part to play - add your name to the list of supporters now!
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