Sheffield Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock admits he is desperate to strengthen his side when the transfer window opens - and not just in attack.

Young forward Nathan Tyson - a long-time Owls target - left Wycombe to join Nottingham Forest, but Sturrock wants to bring in new players in defence as well after poor marking and poor goalkeeping led to the Hornets' first two goals.

"You can't legislate for bad marking and a goalkeeping error," he said. "A striker was my priority - but I think we need players further back. We definitely need to get one or two in."

 

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STURROCK WARNS STRUGGLING OWLS

Paul Sturrock warned his faltering Sheffield Wednesday players they will cease to feature in his plans if performances do not improve following a 2-1 defeat at Watford.

This loss came about because of a dreadful first-half display, epitomised by goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's howler which allowed Marlon King to score Watford's second.

Wednesday were much better in the second half, but had only Glenn Whelan's injury-time goal to show for it, leaving their manager Sturrock a frustrated man.

"We just can't afford to lose the type of goals we are losing, and we have to start games differently," said Sturrock.

"When the players don't do as they are told, and they do not show commitment to the cause, I will not pick them.

"Watford showed a work ethic in the first half that we didn't show, and that was the key to the game.

"These things keep happening, which is why we keep needing to change personnel."

Sturrock - whose team went 1-0 down thanks to Clarke Carlisle's 17th-minute header - has been chasing a striker for much of the season, but admitted that he needed to strengthen in other areas.

Young forward Nathan Tyson - a long-time Owls target - left Wycombe to join Nottingham Forest, but Sturrock wants to bring in new players in defence as well after poor marking and poor goalkeeping led to the Hornets' first two goals.

"You can't legislate for bad marking and a goalkeeping error like that," he continued.

"A striker was my priority - but I think we need players further back.

"We definitely need to get one or two in (when the transfer window re-opens in January)."

Hornets boss Adrian Boothroyd blamed himself for the way his side ceded the initiative to the Owls after the break.

Sturrock's decision to switch to a three-man midfield confused the Hornets - and Boothroyd admitted he had been at fault.

"I'm going to give myself a stern talking to when I get home," Boothroyd joked.

"I made mistakes today. I made some poor tactical decisions, but that's all part of my getting better.

"And I suppose if you are going to make mistakes, it is better to make them when you are 2-0 up."

This was Watford's fifth successive win in the Coca-Cola Championship, and cemented their third position in the table.

But Boothroyd remains concerned with their inability to kill off their opponents when they reach a position of strength.

"We lack the ability to dominate a match for 90 minutes," he said. "When teams go 2-0 down, they have nothing to lose - and we have to deal with that.

"It's a different kind of pressure: it's not like chasing a game or knowing you need to score. We need to work out how to hold onto our lead and consolidate, but we should've buried them in the first half."