Henrik Pedersen said he is looking forward to his Wednesday side playing in front of all our fans again after last night’s narrow S6 defeat to Middlesbrough.

With thousands of Owls supporters boycotting the match in the latest protests over owner Dejphon Chansiri, Pedersen said: “We are not used to playing in front of so few of our fans in the stadium. It is painful because we know how it could be.

“I understand all the fans and also the fans who sit at home. I respect everyone, I’m just looking forward to when we can be together again.”

On the game itself, he added: “The first half today was a step up in performance and in the second half we showed we can compete and stay in the game until the end.

“From both a football and mental side it was a step up, we have a good base for the future and need to show it again against Oxford on Saturday.”

On emergency loan keeper, Joe Lumley, who produced several fines saves, he said: “How he kept us in the game today was amazing.”