Revealed! Five key moments behind Sheffield Wednesday's alarming decline

Sat third at Christmas with senior players announcing an assault on the automatic promotion places, Sheffield Wednesday’s season has crumbled, with the Owls now just nine points from the drop zone.
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But where did it all go wrong? Let’s take a look at just five moments that may have shaped the downturn.

Injury time at Stoke – December 26

Arriving at the bet365 stadium on the crest of a wave on Boxing Day, Wednesday were big favourites to beat relegation-battling Stoke City.

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They played with little fluency but seemed to have sneaked a late win through Tom Lees’ 74th minute header before Stoke hit back with two goals in injury time to take the win.

It was a jolt to the system for Wednesday, one they are yet to shake off.

Post-match at Wigan – January 28

A woeful display saw out-of-form relegation favourites Wigan beat Wednesday 2-1, with Monk choosing to hold nothing back in his assessment of the dressing room culture when speaking with the press post-match.

Steven Fletcher is stretchered off the pitch with a knee injury in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-0 FA Cup win over Brighton.Steven Fletcher is stretchered off the pitch with a knee injury in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-0 FA Cup win over Brighton.
Steven Fletcher is stretchered off the pitch with a knee injury in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-0 FA Cup win over Brighton.

Who knows whether it had a negative influence on the players – whatever his thinking behind it, it hasn’t had the desired effect.

Second half at Brighton – January 4

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An excellent win at Premier League Brighton saw Wednesday book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

But it came at huge cost, with talisman forward Steven Fletcher ruled out for two months with a knee injury. They won one of seven games in his absence.

Defeat to Cardiff – December 29

It wasn’t long ago that Wednesday had an air of invincibility about them at Hillsborough. Monk’s undefeated home record in the Championship disappeared against Cardiff. They haven’t clawed that aura back.

First-half at Wigan – January 28

That trip to Wigan has a lot to answer for. Who’d have thought that an injury to left-back Morgan Fox would have caused so much of an issue?

The full-back, twice the Owls’ player of the month this season, hobbled out of the Latics clash and missed four winless games.

Garry Monk spoke of the leadership and balance he brings to the side.