Sheffield Wednesday: 'It is great to put that stat to bed'

Sheffield Wednesday ended their top-10 hoodoo at the ninth time of asking on Saturday, defeating in-form Brentford 2-1 at Hillsborough.

The sense of relief around the ground after the referee blew his whistle to signal full-time was tangible. Some players sank to the floor while the likes of Morgan Fox and Cameron Dawson congratulated two-goal matchwinner Steven Fletcher. It was a big result and the three points moved the Owls up to sixth.

On Wednesday finally taking a top half scalp, Monk told The Star: "We have not really talked about it once since I have been here. It is great to put that stat to bed. We have played Leeds, WBA and Swansea (this season) and we know we have played well enough to beat them. If I am honest, I don't really agree with that stat. I don't think that is a good stat for this league because it is as hard to beat teams in the bottom half as it is in the top half."

Victory over the Bees means Monk has still yet to taste defeat on home soil since the took over the reins in early September, winning three and drawing four matches.

Now Monk’s troops will be searching for a third consecutive win when they travel to Derby County on Wednesday evening. Defender Liam Palmer is in the frame to start after serving a three-match suspension.