Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk on what's next for the Owls after 'one of the worst defeats of his career’ against Blackburn

The 40-year-old has overseen incredible highs and painful lows since taking over six matches into the season and admitted the weekend’s defeat was one of the lowest points of his five-year managerial career.

It came off the back of headline-grabbing wins at Leeds and Brighton and hit the handbrake on momentum that had formed since a run of three consecutive defeats at the back end of a gruelling Christmas schedule.

Asked whether he was concerned by a run of four defeats in the 10th placed Owls’ last five matches, Monk said: “Of course, we don't want that.

“But we are not the only team doing that. You are seeing it across the whole league.

“I think we have shown what we are capable of and the type of performances we can put in.

“The consistency is not where we want it to be.”

Wednesday travel to London on Friday to take on Championship rivals QPR for a place in the FA Cup fifth round. And Monk sees the match as the first opportunity to right the wrongs of Saturday’s Hillsborough horror show.

“I think when you have a setback and you have a day like Blackburn you have a week to come fighting back,” he said.

“It is one of the worst I have had. It has only happened to me once when I was at Swansea and we played Chelsea.

“But I have to I take full responsibility. I have to stay balanced, even when you feel emotional, and understand there is football to played and work to be done.

“I said from the start that it was not always going to be a smooth ride or journey. There is a lot of work to be done and there will always be until we can get ourselves forward.”