Sheffield Wednesday surprise after heavy Oxford United loss

The U’s ran out 4-1 winners at the Kassam on Saturday in their final home game of the Championship season and only moments before Matt Bloomfield’s team had their relegation to League One confirmed thanks to results elsewhere.

In a clash between two already relegated sides, Will Lankshear scored a stylish brace before Will Vaulks bagged a third for The Yellows.

Oxford United’s Stan Mills causes trouble in the box against Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Jason Dawson)

17-year-old Will Grainger pulled one back for Wednesday before Myles Peart-Harris scored Oxford’s fourth goal a minute later.

With their fate already decided, United played with attacking freedom and seemingly a weight off their shoulders, catching The Owls off guard.

“We had not expected that they would play so many short passes,” Pedersen confessed after the match.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen (Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)

“Normally it’s a very direct team with a lot of long balls.

“Today they played very few long balls and there was a big freedom for them. So our pressing in first half was not how we want to be from the intensity but also tactically.

“I think, in the second half, we had control for our pressing, we made some adjustments and there was also more intensity in second half for our pressing and we also created chances too.

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Oxford United’s Will Lankshear is challenged against Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Jason Dawson)

“But of course, when you conceded four goals, then it’s also difficult to win. So today we didn’t deserve it.

“We were honest, we were not prepared that they will play so much on the ground. We were prepared for how they have played the last many games, much more direct. They normally have the ball less and we were prepared for a more direct game, a second ball game.

Oxford United’s Stan Mills (right) celebrates with goal scorer Myles Peart-Harris (left) (Image: Jason Dawson)

“So the priority to be good on the second ball instead of in the first pressing is a great problem for us and we changed this.

“We tried to change to the first half, it was better the last 15-20 minutes and then I think we solved it for the second half when we changed things in the second half. So in the second half, our pressing was much, much better and much more controlled.

“But one thing is the formation, the other thing is the intensity and the collective relation you put in and it was not good enough in the first half.”

Oxford look ahead to the final day of the regular Championship season this Saturday with a trip to automatic promotion chasing Millwall.