What Garry Monk said his players could learn from Sheffield Wednesday supporters after their 3-0 defeat against Reading

But Owls boss Garry Monk said the fans deserve ‘great credit’ for their commitment to supporting their team, commenting that his players could learn from their response to a sorry performance in their 3-0 defeat to Reading.

The players stayed on to applaud the remaining supporters after boos at the final whistle on a miserable day at S6.

It was the commitment of the remaining fans that Monk featured in his post-match discussion with the Owls players.

He said: “I thought the fans were brilliant today in what it could have been.

“They could have been on the players’ backs, and even at the end, they could have been really negative - I actually thought the fans were brilliant.

“They backed their team, and I said to the players at the end, that’s an example which this group need to take on board themselves.

“Stick together, that’s the only way they can get themselves out of it, follow the example of what the fans did.

“They can do it, they can change it.”

The Owls are locked in a run of one win in 10 matches and have fallen out of the race for the play-offs having sat third at Christmas.

Supporters are split on who is to blame for the club’s run.

“It could have been completely toxic from start to finish considering the run we’re on, the size club we’re at and the expectation it has,” Monk said.

“I thought they actually stuck by their team. Even at the end, when they could have made their feelings known more they didn’t.

“It could have been toxic but they stuck by their players. I said to the players that it was the sort of attitude they need.

“They were a massive credit and I thank them for that. I know how hard it is, it is for all of us, extremely difficult in this period. Sticking together like that is what we need.”