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Owls stuck in slow lane
OWLS boss Brian Laws pointed to a horrendous seven-and-a-half hour journey before last night's 6-0 howler at Reading - yet admitted the motorway misery was no excuse.
Wednesday were taken to the cleaners by Kevin Doyle's hat-trick and a brace from strike partner Noel Hunt.
They were 2-0 down after nine minutes - and later conceded three second half goals in the space of 14 minutes.
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"The performance epitomised our preparation, it was shocking," summed up a shell-shocked Laws.
"We were stuck in traffic on the way down today. We set off at 8am, and didn't get to Reading until about 3.30pm. That showed. I don't want to make excuses, but that was a major factor.
"I think we hit two crashes on the M1 and the M40. We had to sit tight, and sitting on the coach for seven hours isn't great. But players have got to get out there and perform.
"We try to prepare ourselves as best as we can. We try to get down early and be calm.
"You try to organise yourselves, but when you are in traffic jams like that you have got to stop off at motorway cafes for your food. All the preparation goes out of the window, and that wasn't good."
Wednesday had a couple of first-half chances through Jermaine Johnson and Deon Burton to keep themselves in touch with the rampant Royals.
Laws said his troops made Reading look like Real Madrid: "But if we give opportunities like that, then we will make anybody look good," he smarted.
Doyle's first two goals came courtesy of defensive blunders, in which midfielder James O'Connor played his part. The other four displayed average defending to say the least.
"Steve Coppell will be honest and say that they have played against a poor side," continued Laws. "We need to make sure that come Saturday against Ipswich we don't put in a performance like that again."
Striker Francis Jeffers at least made a welcome return to action after eight months out with a left ankle problem to play the last 25 minutes.
HIT FOR SIX
LAST night's defeat is Sheffield Wednesday's worst for nine years.
It was September 19, 1999, that the Owls crashed 8-0 at Newcastle in the Premiership - Sir Bobby Robson's first game in charge at St James' Park and Alan Shearer scored five of them.
The last time Wednesday conceded six in a game was at home to Manchester City in a 6-2 defeat on September 22, 2001 in Division One now The Championship).
Six of worst for slowcoach Owls: MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
