Henrik Pedersen: Sheffield Wednesday gave everything to earn QPR draw

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen said his team gave everything as they earned a 1-1 Championship draw with QPR at Hillsborough for their first home point of the season.

Nicolas Madsen’s penalty early in the second half cancelled out Dominic Iorfa’s header on the half-hour mark.

Pedersen said: “My players gave all that they could today. We’ve had a difficult beginning to the season in our home games but I think we played really well.

“We have to make Hillsborough difficult and I think we did today. We had a really strong first half especially. We were defensively solid and we showed a lot on the ball going forward.

“The first 20 minutes of the second half were difficult for us but after that we came back strongly and finished the game well.

“We must remember QPR have won their last three games. They have a very strong team and we knew a difficult period would come but we showed again today we can really compete.

“Today was a good step forward. The boys are investing a lot with the focus on the team and not for themselves. They are giving their all and pushing themselves to the limit.

“All my players want to make a difference and help their team-mates. Even in the younger boys, I see a lot of leaders in this team.

“We have to be happy as this was our first point and best home performance this season and it’s a good basis to build on.

“My young players have a big hunger to learn and improve and do everything they can whilst they play for Sheffield Wednesday.

“There is of course a lot of outside noise and it’s difficult but the boys are so strong and they handled things really well on the pitch today.”

QPR manager Julien Stephan said the draw showed his team was making good progress in the English second tier this season.

Stephan said: “Our intensity, quality and end product was not good enough in the first half. I wasn’t surprised at how well Wednesday played. We had a plan and we didn’t respect it and that’s why we had to change some things for the second half.

“It was completely different at the start of second half. We scored an early goal and had 20 minutes where we had plenty of chances to score but it wasn’t to be.

“At the end of the game we just had to survive. They were trying more long balls and putting set-pieces into the box and it’s good to see we can compete with these things.

“In the end it’s a point we have to be happy with. I have to give credit to Sheffield Wednesday; they worked hard and were very good in the first half.

“This is a difficult league and we know how quickly momentum can change. When your intensity drops and you’re the away team, the atmosphere can change and the opposition can take advantage and score.

“We try not to think about what’s happening with the Sheffield Wednesday protest. It’s important to just try and stay focused on what we’re doing.

“Maybe we lose this game four or five weeks ago. I think this shows my team is making good progress. We have got 10 points in four games which is a good return.”