Garry Monk stands defiant as pressure mounts on Sheffield Wednesday manager

The Owls stand 10 points from safety, after slumping to their fourth consecutive defeat in a 1-0 away loss at Wycombe Wanderers, still stranded on minus four after kicking off the campaign with a 12-point penalty.

Nine games played, but there are few on-field positives to support Monk’s claim as the Owls concluded a shocking week which saw them lose to Luton Town, Rotherham United and Wycombe - three clubs who many tip to be scrapping for survival themselves come the Spring - without even mustering a single goal in reply.

A small consolation for Monk is football’s lockout means he has not had to endure the wrath of disgruntled Owls supporters as the club faces the stark reality of returning to the third tier of English football next season. He would be wise to avoid social media and radio phone-ins.

David Wheeler’s header in first-half stoppage-time was enough to floor the Owls at Adams Park, as Wycombe claimed their first ever win in the Championsip.

“I thought it was a much better performance than the last two,” said Monk. “The lads ran their hearts out today, we competed, which we knew we would have to do, we’re just lacking that killer edge.

“It’s an enormous challenge no matter the situation. With the points deduction as well we know it’s a mammoth task but the spirit is there and I’ve got no doubt that they can get out of this and the players are good enough to do this.

“I believe in the work that I do. I’ve proven I can win games in this league, it’s a tough moment, one of the toughest situations I’ve been in at this club. I’m not going to lose belief in myself.”

It remains to be seen whether owner Dejphon Chansiri retains that same belief, or will look to change manager in the hope of kickstarting Wednesday’sseason.

“We ran our hearts out today, which we knew we had to do,” Monk said. “I thought they gave everything today, they ran their socks off. They kept pushing until the end and it is just not going for us at this moment in time.”

Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop, Grimmer, Stewart, Knight, Jacobson, Adeniran (Bloomfield 55), Wheeler (Onyedinma 71), Thompson, Horgan, Kashket, Akinfenwa (Ikpeazu 72). Unused substitutes: Tafazolli, Samuel, Stockdale, Mehmeti.

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Iorfa, Borner, Harris (Brown 60), Pelupessy (Kachunga 67), Bannan, Windass, Reach, Paterson, Marriott (Rhodes 77). Unused substitutes: Dele-Bashiru, Odubajo, Dawson, Hunt.

Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).

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