Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl pinpointed his team’s belief as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with relegation-threatened Luton.
Michael Smith’s penalty cancelled out Alfie Doughty’s fine first-half goal.
The point leaves Wednesday two points adrift of the top six while Luton are two points from safety.
Rohl said: “I think from the first view you can think about it as two different halves. The first half was exactly what I expected. A team who is looking for set pieces, second balls, compact, try something.
“For me it was clear we need a little bit of patience today against a side who will be compact. They fight for staying in the league.
“We noticed from last year what it means. And then of course second half we could make impacts from the bench but also how we played and quicker in front. I think especially first half and it was during the 90 minutes as well, we need sometimes two, three touches.
“This is against a side who’s staying deep, you have to accelerate the game at the right moment in this time of the year. I think we cannot do more. Ball possession, shots on target, everything.
“I will be positive. I will not accept today that we are too negative and we speak too much about the first half or the second half. It’s a Championship challenge today. And we carry on.
“We come one point closer. We make always small steps, not the big step but in the right moment we make the big step. We should be always around as long as we are in this position. We come back with all the belief we can do it.”
Despite surrendering the lead, Luton manager Matt Bloomfield was pleased to pick up a point away from home.
He said: “I thought we were fantastic first half, really solid in our shape. Had a couple of moments, obviously a great strike from Alf to get ourselves ahead and I felt like we were really solid, really pleased with the shape of us and the intensity of the group.
“I think that probably showed with the half-time substitutions that Danny made and then second half there was inevitably going to be a bit of pressure I guess.
“And Sheffield Wednesday are obviously a team chasing the play-offs and very good at home. So for us I think it’s a good point, a respectable point, considering the run that we’ve been on away from home.
“To stop that, we’re pleased. But yeah, I think there’s some really good individual performances in there and as a team I thought there were some good bits and as always plenty to work on.”
Bloomfield acknowledged that the introduction of Smith after the break had a big impact on the game.
He said: “To have that threat is obviously a massive, massive weapon for the football club. He’s been doing it for a number of years.
“He’s a class performer at this level and it’s a fantastic tool for Danny (Rohl) to be able to use.”
Bloomfield also had words of praise for goalscorer Doughty, saying: “Fantastic strike, he’s got some magic in his feet, Alf. And he’s someone we need to keep fit and get fitter and sharper.
“He’s had a bit of time out, that’s only his second, or third appearance back so he’ll get better as well.”
