'We're still in the cup - that's positive'

Carlos Carvalhal reckoned the result was about right after his return to Sheffield Wednesday ended in a goalless draw.

The Swans and the Owls will have to do it all again at the Liberty Stadium as they fight it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup.

Carvalhal’s men are now 10 games unbeaten in all competitions having set up a third replay in three rounds of the cup this season.

Mike van der Hoorn came closest to winning a game which was short on clear-cut chances when his header was well saved.

But Carvalhal conceded that his team could not complain after the stalemate set up yet another replay following Wolves in round three and Notts County in the fourth round.

“We have another replay. It’s a bit like Police Academy. You have the first one, then Police Academy 2, then Police Academy 3,” Carvalhal said through a smile.

“But it’s the reality that we have to play another replay and that’s okay. We are still in the cup and that’ a positive.

“We will have another game and we will have another chance to progress to the next stage.

“I have said before that we are underdogs in this competition. That’s not because we are weak, but it’s because our main competition is the Premier League.

“We are still in the competition because my players are competitors and they always try to win.”

The Swans started slowly at Hillsborough, with Wednesday having the better of the opening stages.

But the visitors gradually found their feet and dominated possession for long periods, though they could not find enough quality to deliver a winning goal.

“Credit to Sheffield Wednesday, they pressed us in the first 20 minutes and they made it difficult for us,” Carvalhal added.

“We made some changes and it’s not easy to play with the same dynamic when you do that.

“But after 20 minutes we started to control the ball and the second half was different. We played better – we moved the ball to the right and to the left and we blocked their counter-attacks well.

“The end result is fair, though, so let’s go to another game – Police Academy 3.”