More questions were asked of manager Carlos Carvalhal, as Barnsley held Sheffield Wednesday to a draw at Hillsborough – but at least Barry Bannan stood out.
A stunning second-half equaliser from Harvey Barnes at Hillsborough did little to ease the mounting pressure on Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal. The Owls slipped up again with a 1-1 home draw against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, and they have now dropped to 17th in the Championship table.
And it’s difficult to ignore the signs of a continued decline for a side who reached the play-offs in each of the last two seasons. On current form, Sheffield Wednesday’s hopes of a third straight campaign in the top six look over already, as it may become increasingly difficult to keep hold of players admired by clubs elsewhere. Players like Barry Bannan.
Once again, the Scottish schemer was the stand-out player for Wednesday on Saturday afternoon, providing a constant threat of creativity when pulling the strings from his playmaking position.
Supporters seem to be arriving at the conclusion, however, that Carvalhal is failing to get the best out of arguably the most gifted player at his disposal. After all, the 27-year-old’s influence waned badly when the beleaguered boss decided to shift Bannan out to the left wing in the second half.
As the moment, it appears that almost every decision Carvalhal makes is being pulled apart and dissected by fans and pundits alike. After another disappointing result, however, the fans are right to ask questions.
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