Sheffield Wednesday have failed to keep a clean sheet in approaching two months.
Jos Luhukay has accused his Sheffield Wednesday players of being “too weak” and “too passive” in their own defensive area.
Wednesday, who kept clean sheets in six of Luhukay’s first nine games as manager, have conceded in each of their 11 since then.
Against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, the Owls shipped three inside 15 minutes, before restoring some pride via a 4-2 scoreline.
Discussing his side’s defensive issues at a press conference on Thursday, Luhukay told Wednesday’s official Facebook page: “It’s a situation we are not happy about. We concede goals too easily. We know we have a problem on the sides, to stop and block crosses, and also to defend the second post. When we see (those conceded) goals, we know we cannot be happy with that.
“We are too passive in the important moments so we must be active more in one-on-one (situations) and to win the one-on-ones in our own area. It is not a question of the system or tactics, it is a question of: will I go the last metre to win the one-on-one or to block the crosses so you don’t have a problem in the 18-yard box? That is what we must do better. I think the players want that, but from training to (putting it into) practice it’s a different thing.”
Asked whether that revealed a mental weakness in his players, the Dutchman added: “I must give you an honest answer: we are too weak in our own area to defend 100 per cent consistently, to come and to win your one-one-ones and to clear the situation.
“I’m not happy about the goals we conceded on Tuesday. It cannot happen so easy. We are too passive in our own dangerous area, and I mean the last 20/25 metres. We are not consistent, not aggressive enough to clear our own area to (prevent) goals.”
Having all but secured their safety with three wins out of five, Sheffield Wednesday’s last two results have invited accusations of players downing tools. Luhukay however does not agree with that assessment.
“I don’t think (they players have given up),” he said. “I think they don’t see the dangerous moments coming.”
Wednesday travel to in-form Hull City on Saturday, where they could be without Daniel Pudil, Barry Bannan, Lucas Joao and Atdhe Nuhiu, on top of long-term absentees Keiren Westwood, Joost van Aken, Morgan Fox, Sam Hutchinson, Kieran Lee, Sean Clare, Ross Wallace, Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher.
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