Garry Monk urges Sheffield Wednesday to ride through disappointment within games after suffering first defeat

Garry Monk believes his Sheffield Wednesday side must learn to shake off disappointment of not making strong pressure count if they are to compete against the Championship’s top sides this season.
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Wednesday lost their unbeaten league record with a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City on Sunday, something Monk put down to fine margins.

The Owls were much the stronger side in the first half and missed good opportunities to take the lead at Ashton Gate.

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Bristol City then emerged the better outfit after the break and took the lead through Tommy Rowe before Jamie Paterson put the game to bed late on.

Garry Monk watches on during Sheffield Wednesday's defeat at Bristol City. Picture: Steve EllisGarry Monk watches on during Sheffield Wednesday's defeat at Bristol City. Picture: Steve Ellis
Garry Monk watches on during Sheffield Wednesday's defeat at Bristol City. Picture: Steve Ellis

Failing to take chances in the first half was an issue for the Owls in the goalless draw with Watford a week prior and Monk has urged his side to deal with such frustration better.

“In the first half we didn’t make the most of the openings we had and in the second, the few opportunities they had, they made the most of them,” Monk said.

“It’s fine margins and of course we’re frustrated and disappointed.

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“The feeling is that sometimes maybe we have to get better at dealing with the disappointment of when we are on top and don’t capitalise on it.

“The key is to push through it and try to keep it going into second halves.

“It can sometimes happen in the first half where you’re not the right team and then it comes in the second half.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game and it would be about whoever could take the few opportunities they had.

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“Unfortunately it was them that took theirs and we couldn’t quite find ours.

“The rest of it was very, very close.”

The Owls boss believes grabbing the opening goal in matches this season is going to be vital, as Sunday’s game showed.

“The first goal is always big in the Championship, particularly in the current circumstances behind-closed doors where there isn’t a crowd to get you back into a game or push you on,” he said.

“That emotional factor that we’ve spoken about a lot is clearly not here.”

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