What Stoke boss Michael O'Neill said about Sheffield Wednesday's performance after more late heartbreak for the Owls

Monk blasted his players for a lack of determination in the defeat, which saw them wrestle a 2-1 lead heading into injury time.

But goals from Tyrese Campbell and Sam Vokes claimed a deserved win for the Potters as Wednesday yet again dropped points late on.

Asked whether he was surprised at the Owls’ uncharacteristic lack of bite, the Northern Irishman, who saw his side rise from the foot of the Championship, said:

“I can understand why he might have thought that, but we came with intensity as well. We asked questions of them.

“We were in yesterday training and we were in early this morning preparing.

“They did lack the intensity that maybe they would have hoped for, but we played with our intensity, that was the most important thing.

“That was what gave us the upper hand in the game, in the first half certainly.”

A disjointed Owls display mirrored that of a trip to Blackburn Rovers early last month which saw them take a lead into the last few minutes only to lose.

Heading into an impressive run of six matches unbeaten, they also dropped points against Swansea, West Brom and Cardiff.

On whether opposition teams might sense a vulnerability in Wednesday late on in games going forward, O’Neill said:

“I don’t think so to be honest, that is the nature of the Championship.

“The guys done a great job, he’s got a good, strong team there and they’re looking at, at the very least a strong top six position.

“When I look at the games we’ve lost, for example, I’ve gone away scratching my head thinking ‘how have we lost that game?’

“Between so many teams there really is very little. There are so often just little moments that change things, you really see a game where one team is completely dominant over the other.

“I wouldn’t think that’s an area of the game that teams will be highlighting in relation to Sheffield Wednesday.”