Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford - Impossible for Garry Monk to be patient

The Owls are the only team in England with a negative points tally after the 12-point deduction for breaching the Championship’s financial regulations, but getting into the black is now in sight.

A win and a draw from consecutive home games against Brentford and Luton Town would put them back to square one, although that is no easy task for a side which has lost its last nine Hillsborough matches, stretching back to February.

The cost-cutting coronavirus has forced manager Monk to go with a more youthful squad this season, and he has felt unable to give players the time he would like to bed in.

“I’d love to give them five, six, seven or eight games to try to get right into their stride,” he said. “We don’t have that luxury this season.

“The importance of performing is on everyone, whether you’re a young lad making your debut or a senior lad that has played 300 or 400 games, because of the situation we’re in. Normally, as a manager, you’d let certain things ride and you’d let them go through them for a period.

“Usually, that’s right as you need to show them that support but we don’t have that luxury as much this season.

“We have to get as many points as possible.

“It’s not me putting pressure on them, it should be about determination. The pressure to perform is there every single game, in every single situation. Why should we be any different? We’re in a very serious situation.”

Monk is not expecting any of his injured players back tonight, meaning he will go with the group from which he chose midfielder Massimo Luongo as an emergency centre-back in the absence of Tom Lees, Dominic Iorfa and Chey Dunkley for the victory at Birmingham City.

Liam Palmer, Liam Shaw and Izzy Brown are also expected to be missing but deadline-day signing Jack Marriott could freshen the side after making his debut from the bench at St Andrew’s.

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday WDLLDW; Brentford WLWDDW.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire).

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 2 Brentford 1; December 7, 2019; Championship.

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James Mitchinson