The fat lady is mixing her drink: Talking points from Sheffield Wednesday's late defeat to Rotherham United

An own goal from the Millers’ Matt Olosunde eight minutes from time breathed belief into the Owls before substitute Freddie Ladapo hammered one past Joe Wildsmith in the seventh minute of injury time to pull the heart out of Wednesday supporters.

The game appeared to have turned on a red card given to Michael Smith on 66 minutes as Wednesday grew into it, alas. Smith had earlier scored Rotherham’s opener in the first half as Wednesday made plenty of chances, but failed to take them.

Let’s take a look at some of the talking points from a depressingly ominous night at S6.

Owls on the front foot

There was a suggestion pre-match that Darren Moore would line Wednesday up in Moore’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and it came to pass, with Barry Bannan posted further forward in the sort of ‘number 10’ role be was ever so briefly deployed in under Tony Pulis.

He’s cut a frustrated figure when playing much deeper in recent seasons and in a campaign that has seen Wednesday struggle so consistently to create chances, it makes sense for their main man in the creativity stakes to push up a little closer to the action.

They were less direct and played from the back more often.

These were brave calls for Moore to make just a couple of days through the door, but the manager is clearly keen to shake things up a touch and try to get him playing on the front foot. He’s proven in one press conference and one matchday that he is very much his own man, not shy of making big decisions.

Did it work? Wednesday had a few decent chances. The fact is that they failed to take them. Long-term, this Wednesday side may well look a little different.

Moore watch

He’s an imposing figure, Darren Moore. Hands in watches the game intently and for the majority of the match stationed himself outside of his technical area, searching for the best possible vantage point.

He speaks to his players in authoritative tone, as you’d expect, and was constantly encouraging them to play more football. He was calm throughout and went for it in a big way towards the end, replacing Bannan and Palmer with two strikers; Marriott and Rhodes, after Wednesday’s equaliser.

Moore’s assistant, Jamie Smith, was in constant communication and made notes throughout.

How much would you pay for a look at what was written down? Together with Paul Williams and Neil Thompson, they’ve got an awful lot of work to do. Welcome to the battlefield, Darren.

Missing in the big moments

After a bright start that had seen Hutchinson and Paterson come close, it took until the 17th minute for Rotherham centre-forward Michael Smith, previously more then 400 minutes without a goal, headed home.

It was a sickener and all of Wednesday’s doing. Florian Jozefzoon is a fine player on his day and was praised for his cross, but he was allowed to make it with Matt Penney not at his station. As for the marking? Smith had the freedom of S6 to pick his spot.

In between the boxes, Wednesday certainly weren’t at their worst and seemed to create one or two bits more than in previous weeks. Where so often creating chances has been the issue, finishing killed them this time; Callum Paterson missed some big chances, not least from Borner’s arching ball over the top. So to did Bannan, Reach and Windass.

After Rotherham were reduced to 10 men they grew further into it and had further chances. The visitors, on the other hand, made big tackles and had goalkeeper Viktor Johansson to thank for some big saves.

In the big moments, Wednesday weren’t good enough. Though no side is relegated on one evening, it’s a trait that may well cost the Championship status.

Mentality struggles?

The stat remains. In every game Wednesday have fallen behind in this season, they are yet to take a single point. And it’s just not good enough.

Darren Moore faced questions on the mentality of the side he inherited in midweek and faced them head-on. Were the Owls side that fell behind at Hillsborough last night rabbits in headlights? That might be harsh to suggest, given the chances created.

It’s a nasty habit that will only get worse and worse until they finally pick up a point from behind, yet alone a win. Chance would be a fine thing.

Is that that?

The fat lady is yet to start singing of course, but she’s backstage performing vocal warm-up routines and mixing a honey and lemon drink.

Wednesday have a very tough run-in ahead of them and the opportunity to build on the momentum switch offered by Moore’s appointment in midweek was passed up on. The visitors looked a relatively poor side and in moments looked there for the taking defensively.

There is still plenty of football to be played, but that feels like a long nail in the coffin. Buckle up, survival would mean some end to the season.

Teams

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith; Penney, Borner, Lees, Palmer; Hutchinson (Brown, 78), Shaw; Windass (Kachunga, 72), Bannan, Reach (Harris, 72); Paterson

Subs unused: Jackson, Pelupessy, Marriott, Urhoghide, Rhodes, Dunkley

Rotherham United: Johansson; Harding, MacDonald, Olosunde; Giles (Clarke, 73), Crooks, Wiles, Wing, Jozefzoon (Ladapo, 68); Smith, Barlaser

Subs unused: Blackman, MacDonald, Hirst, Sadlier

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