Sunday 24 September 2017 16:37, UK
Carlos Carvalhal called for Sheffield Wednesday to respond strongly to their 4-2 home defeat to rivals Sheffield United in the Steel City derby on Sunday.
The Owls made a terrible start to the clash at Hillsborough as they fell 2-0 behind inside 15 minutes, but they responded well and levelled through goals either side of half-time from Gary Hooper and Lucas Joao.
Parity was shortlived, however, as United hit back immediately and eventually emerged as convincing winners from the first derby meeting in over five years.
"It's a strange game for us," Wednesday boss Carvahal told Sky Sports. "We never concede four goals, we never make these kind of mistakes.
"If you start losing the game 2-0 after 15 minutes in a derby it is very hard, but my players have a big heart so they came back. The third goal was a very hard moment, the way we conceded it, and the fourth…I must give congratulations to Sheffield United and say it is my responsibility. I want everybody to leave the players alone.
"We need to be concentrated on the next games. The season has not finished, it is the beginning. We have done very well so far, it was a long time since we lost, and we must look to the future. The mistakes of my players are my mistakes, so I want them to be concentrated on the next games and have a strong reaction."
Explaining how his side fell 2-0 behind so early in the game, Carvahal added: "Sometimes the emotional environment and going 1-0 behind in three minutes is not easy, the players get more nervous and we felt that.
"That's why we gave them chances to score and made mistakes we do not normally make. We reacted and came back into the game but when you take the third it's very difficult, and the fourth was very hard to react from.
"It was an important game but we have a marathon to run and we believe in our players and our team and we will react."
Wednesday travel to Birmingham on Wednesday before a home match against Leeds next Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football.
