Sheffield Wednesday: Midfield ace hopes for Owls luck to change

Barry Bannan is convinced he was a victim of a poor officiating call against Nottingham Forest last month. The industrious midfielder was controversially dismissed following a tackle on Eric Lichaj.

Wednesday appealed Bannan’s red card but it was rejected by a Football Association regulatory commission.

Bannan sat-out the Owls’ victories over Charlton Athletic, Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers.

He said: “It was frustrating personally because I didn’t think it was a red card. I thought I got the ball but that’s football. It happens.

“Sometimes you get decisions. Sometimes you don’t. A few weeks ago, we had a period where we weren’t quite getting the decisions but it evens itself out over a season. We have got five games left so hopefully we can get a run of decisions.”

There was no happy return to the starting line-up for Bannan as Carlos Carvalhal’s side slumped to a 4-1 loss at Bristol City last weekend.

“It was good to be back out there,” he said. “It felt like I was out for ages with the international break.

“I missed three games but we luckily won them all. The boys were brilliant so that made it a bit easier.”