‘The things that go on at this football club just beggar belief’

SHEFFIELD Wednesday manager Gary Megson laid into his players after a dismal midweek defeat against Brentford.

Megson used terms such as ‘ducking it’ and accused some of making ‘pansy challenges’ in midfield.

He also warned that it would be a scrap for points between now and the end of the season as the club fight to remain in League One.

The Owls suffered a 3-1 defeat against the London club at Hillsborough on Tuesday night and remain only four points clear of the relegation zone with eight games to play.

“I felt that it was the biggest game for Sheffield Wednesday since the Crystal Palace game last year when the club went down,” he said.

“But we didn’t play with any enthusiasm, any great desire, any drive and that, unfortunately for us, is what it’s all about in this division.

“We have one or two who are ducking it, who are costing us goals by not winning tackles that we should win,” he added.

“Every single player now at this club, since I have been here for six or seven weeks, has played for Wednesday but we have got to have a lot more than we are getting.

“We have now got ourselves in a position where there are eight games left and we have just got to grind out as many points as possible.

“We are not going to suddenly start doing anything entirely differently.”

Substitute Jermaine Johnson was the only player given any praise by Megson after a hard working second-half display.

“That was the best I have seen ‘JJ’,” said Megson. “He played at a pace and at a tempo with enthusiasm and zest.

“We are getting that from quite a few of the subs but they have to do it when they get the opportunity to play 90 minutes as well.

“We have a lot of players who want to stand and pass the ball. We have too many of them,” he said.

“Somebody at some point has got to move himself and JJ did that after 45 minutes. There were not many other people who did that and some of the things that go on at this football club beggar belief.

“It’s not frustrating, it makes you angry,” he continued. “The ball is there to be won and you have got to win it. Not hopefully win it. That happens time and time again – and not with just one player, it happens with a few.”

Defender Rob Jones, a recent signing from Scunthorpe United, scored his first goal for the Owls but slipped up for Brentford’s second goal before coming off with suspected concussion.

Megson, however, refused to blame Jones, saying: “He got caught for the second goal instead of just shifting it but the cause didn’t start there. He was just trying to come across; there had been two really pansy-like challenges before it got to that point.

“He’s an honest lad, who competes for every ball, and we have been really pleased with him since he’s been here. It just shows you that we miss a reserve from Scunthorpe when he’s gone off.

“We have been struggling all year because of problems back there but he has scored the goal, he looks assured and, when he heads it, he heads it properly, it doesn’t drop two or three yards.”

Megson, meanwhile, has been hit with two charges of improper conduct as a result of events at last weekend’s game at Dagenham.

Megson was sent to the stands for one protest too many after a penalty appeal for his side was turned down during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge. Megson had earlier been infuriated by referee Steve Rushton’s decision to award the hosts a penalty for handball.

Megson has accepted the first charge – for swearing at the referee and subsequently being ordered from the touchline – but is ready to contest the second charge which relates to criticism of the officals in the media after the game.

If found guilty, Megson will be fined and banned from the touchline for an unspecified number of games.