Megson is angered by lack of passion from Owls

Megson warned that he will bring in new players if those already at the club do not improve quickly.

The Owls were brushed aside by Premier League Birmingham whose manager Alex McLeish rested eight players ahead of next weekend’s Carling Cup final.

Angry Megson described his side’s defending as ‘woeful’ and talked about the possiblity of ‘ripping up’ his squad.

The Owls had reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time for 11 years but, worryingly, have gone nine games without victory in League One and are heading into a relegation scrap.

Megson said: “We have got to stand up and be counted now. Our mettle has got to be a lot stronger.

“You accept that the quality might not be the same (as Premier League opposition) but I don’t accept that the determination, the work-rate, the desire and the commitment should be any different regardless of the level.

“These players have a fantastic opportunity but they are not taking it, which is really frustrating. We are going to have to rip it up if we are not winning games.”

Megson, who has been in charge only four games, has yet to make a move in the transfer market although ambitious chairman Milan Mandaric allowed his predecessor, Alan Irvine, to sign five new players in the month before his departure.

Two of those new signings – former Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds and former Leicester City defender Michael Morrison – were hauled off before the start of the second half.

“There is a responsibility to defend with a lot more passion and commitment than has been shown,” said the Owls manager. “Woeful probably does not describe it adequately.

“The first goal was awful, the second goal was even worse. I should not be in a position where I am prepared to change the back four after 16 minutes.

“It was like Keystone Cops,” he said. “For the first goal, there was a challenge on the halfway line and the ball should be going up their end of the field. Because he thinks he might get a knock, he just dangles his foot in and sticks it to their forward.

“For the second, we had a centre-half going into a full blooded 50-50 challenge with a centre-forward. It should be a no-brainer who is going to win it. Yet he didn’t win it.

“We have sold the jerseys and it’s not the first time its happened. We are trying to get players in that don’t do these type of things.”

Megson revealed that Hull City defender Paul McShane rejected a move to Hillsborough last week prior to signing on loan for Barnsley.

He had also earlier lost out to Hull in the race for Leicester City defender Jack Hobbs.

“There are not too many players who want to come and join us in the situation we are in,” Megson admitted.

“We tried for Jack Hobbs, who chose Hull, we tried for McShane from Hull, and he chose Barnsley because of the division we are in.

“If we were at that (Championship) level, they would come to our place.”

Goals from Jean Beausejour, Obafemi Martins and David Murphy booked Birmingham’s passage to the last eight of the FA Cup – but manager McLeish is now sweating over the availability of winger Alexander Hleb for the Carling Cup final.

Hleb was stretchered off with a knee injury as a result of a hefty challenge by Owls midfielder James O’Connor and had to leave St Andrews on crutches.

Birmingham manager McLeish felt O’Connor had been ‘very late’ in the tackle but Megson jumped to the defence of his player, saying: “It was a mistimed challenge.

“James would not do that on purpose and I sincerely hope every Birmingham player is available for selection next week.

“We never once mentioned that they were playing in the Cup final next week. We didn’t go out to screw people up. We would feel sorry if he missed out.”

Only 14,607 attended the game, including 4,116 away supporters.

McLeish refused to criticise the low turnout and pointed out that his club had been involved in a high number of extra games this season due to success in the Cups.

“There were only 7,000 at Wigan-Bolton in the last round,” he said. “So how can I start complaining about my fans?”

Megson, however, had nothing but praise for Wednesday supporters who backed their team from start to finish despite the disappointment of the performance.

“Our fans deserve better,” he said. “Their support is as good as anything in the country and, given the fact that we are a team that is struggling in Division One and has not won for 10 games, it is a bit humbling.

“If we can show half as much desire and passion as those supporters show, we will be okay – but we are not.”

The Owls, who are only five points clear of the relegation zone, return to league action tomorrow night against second-placed Bournemouth.

Midfielder Liam Palmer, 19, could make his full league debut after impressing as a second-half substitute against Birmingham.