- Owls exit FA Cup on Saturday
- But Manchester City pushed all the way
- Stuart Gray says players can be proud
Stuart Gray stressed the pride in the dressing room after the Owls suffered a last-gasp FA Cup defeat to Manchester City at The Etihad Stadium.
A James Milner double overturned Atdhe Nuhiu’s opener to ensure the Premier League champions went through to round four – but only after a real scare.
Gray said: “We have pushed them all the way and I am so proud of the players, who can be proud of themselves.
“We came here last time and lost 7-0 and learned lessons from that. I said before the game there was no fear of the unknown and that is what we saw.
“We had a game plan, we got our noses in front and the players responded so well.
“They played their hearts out, battled for every ball and I think it’s only tired minds at the end that’s cost us.”
Gray went on to outline the quality of the hosts’ bench that helped City’s passage to the next stage.
The home side introduced key duo David Silva and Samir Nasri on the hour and both played their part in victory.
He added: “There’s a saying in football that it’s not about the team that starts, it’s the one that finishes.
“We saw that today with the quality of the Manchester City bench. They brought on Silva and Nasri and I think that showed how much respect they had for Sheffield Wednesday.”