Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Carlos Carvalhal has insisted that his Sheffield Wednesday side can still gain promotion in the Sky Bet Championship, despite falling further behind the division’s top-six over the weekend.

Wednesday suffered their fourth defeat in five Championship fixtures over the weekend, losing 2-0 to Derby County at the Pride Park Stadium, which has added to the pressure mounting on Carvalhal in South Yorkshire. Goals from Matej Vydra and Bradley Johnson condemned a disappointing Wednesday to defeat.

Despite another setback, and falling six points behind the top-six, Carvalhal was confident that his side could bounce back and end the Owls’ long wait for a Premier League return, he said: “The gap is increasing but I still believe we can get promoted. I have a feeling we will get promoted.

“The way that my players are training and the way that my players are focused on the work make me believe that we will turn things and we will start winning.”

Carvalhal has led Wednesday to back-to-back play-off appearances, but their most recent defeat has seen them fall way behind sixth placed, Norwich City. The Owls will be looking to return to winning ways and start their climb up the table this coming weekend, when they welcome Barnsley to Hillsborough for a South Yorkshire derby.

Wednesday will be without Glenn Loovens for Saturday’s clash with Barnsley, after the defender received a red card in the defeat to Derby County over the weekend.

The Verdict

What a strange statement this is from Carvalhal, with his side looking like a side that couldn’t be further away from a promotion push in the Championship.

Wednesday have been relatively poor all season, and this most recent run is no surprise. It is hard to see how the Owls can go on a run of form that will turn them into promotion contenders this season, with so many others looking head and shoulders above them.

Sheffield Wednesday fans… Let us know your thoughts!