Sheffield Wednesday boss responds to suggestions he should change system after Birmingham defeat

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The Owls lost for the third time in the league last time out.

Sheffield Wednesday coach Carlos Carvalhal responded defiantly to suggestions he should alter his side’s system during Thursday’s press conference, broadcast via the club’s official Facebook page.

The Owls, despite taking a 76th-minute lead and looking comfortable for much of the game, succumbed to their third defeat of the Championship campaign at Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Blues’ two goals mean Carvalhal’s team have now conceded in six straight league matches, having kept clean sheets in each of their opening two and recording a club-record of 17 last term.

And the return to contention of captain Glenn Loovens has prompted suggestions, in some circles, that the Portuguese should deploy three centre-halves in a bit to cut out concessions.

However, Carvalhal affirmed via the club’s official Facebook page: “We never know the future but we don’t have any kind of reason to play three at the back. I accept that when we lose one game like this one (Birmingham) some people say everything is wrong.

“(But) there isn’t one person in the world that said we don’t deserve to win that game – the chances we created, the work their goalkeeper did compared with our goalkeeper.

“I have a lot of friends in Portugal who saw the game and said to me how can you lose this game? If (Wednesday striker Atdhe) Nuhiu put the ball inside the net (seconds before the Blues’ winner), no three centre-halves, no midfielders, no attackers, no coach, no staff, no nothing (can cause them to score).

“But, one day, if we feel that the process is not in a good way of course we will do that because we want to win, absolutely sure.”

All but one of Wednesday’s four defeats this season – across all competitions – have come away from home and the Owls return to Hillsborough this weekend having lost as many matches there since the start of the previous campaign.

However, only Barnsley have scored more goals than opponents Nottingham Forest so far, although Philippe Montanier’s side are also the Championship’s second worst defenders.