“Judge me, not them…” – Garry Monk takes responsibility for Sheffield Wednesday’s home form, but asks fans to give the players more time.
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It’s the Owls’ worst run of home form since the 1970s (they went 13 without a win across the 1974/75 and 1975/76 seasons), and defeat against Luton Town meant that Wednesday still find themselves on -4 points after seven games.
Fans are understandably frustrated and worried at the fact that they have to think back to Steven Fletcher’s winner against Charlton back in February for the last time SWFC won at home, and Wednesday’s boss says he’s happy to take the responsibility of that run.
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Hide AdSpeaking to the media after the defeat at Hillsborough, Monk said, “I think in terms of the team, the players themselves, they should be judged on this season, not on what’s happened before.
“Obviously I’m part of before, so I’m happy to take that responsibility, but I think it’s still early days these season.”
“We were 30 seconds from winning against QPR, we could’ve won against Watford as well.
“Today it was a much bigger frustration, not because it’s Luton, but we know it was an opportunity to come out from the Brentford game and put that right.”
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Hide AdBut instead of being able to put it right, Wednesday saw made it just one win in 18 home games following Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s winner and will have to wait until next month’s clash with Bournemouth to have a chance at changing that.
In terms of the backlash that may come following another defeat, though, Monk reiterated that the players need support and time, saying, “So I think judge the players, the squad, on this season. Judge me on before, I’m happy to take that responsibility.
“But for the players, I think they deserve more time to turn the home form around.”
Next up for Wednesday are back to back away games against Rotherham United and Wycombe Wanderers, with the minimum expectation being that they’re out of the red and into the black in terms of points by the time November rolls around next Sunday.