Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl believes his side “need” clean sheets to have any chance of climbing further up the table.

Rohl’s comments come after the Owls beat Derby County 4-2 at Hillsborough with forward Josh Windass scoring one of the goals of the season from inside his own half.

However, strikes from Jerry Yates and Ebou Adams meant there was no clean sheet to be had for the hosts with them having now conceded 38 goals in the Championship this season, more than the 36 they have scored.

“At the end you never know, 4-2, one goal, and then it becomes a difficult moment again,” Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield after the game.

“We score a lot, I also think this is good that we scored today a little bit more but we need clean sheets.

“This is the most important key point when you look up to the top teams of the league, they concede not so many goals and this is what you have to improve.”

Despite Wednesday now sitting in ninth following today’s win, the South Yorkshire club have the fifth worst defence in the league with only Plymouth (53), Luton (42), Portsmouth (40), Cardiff (39) and Oxford (39) having conceded more goals, all of whom are in the bottom half of the table.

When asked whether any defensive additions could be made in January, Rohl added that new arrivals at Hillsborough would have to be “impact” players.

“We will try in January to do something but it must be really be an impact player and this for me is important,” he said.

“When you ask me about a centre-back it’s right footed, left footed would be nice but everyone wants a left foot.

“The targets are clear, now we look what we can do.”

Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday next face Millwall at home on Saturday. The 13th-placed Lions sit four places behind the Owls on 29 points.