Why Garry Monk has heaped praise on Sheffield Wednesday's 'brilliant' supporters

Wednesday were booed off the pitch after their 3-1 home defeat to Derby and there were also chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ directed at Monk’s players during the first half of Saturday’s game at Hillsborough.

But Monk believes the supporters have been right to level criticism at him and his side during an alarming run which has seen the Owls lose eight of their last 13 matches to slip from third at Christmas to 12th place in the Championship.

The loss of form on the pitch is also set against the backdrop of a potential points deduction hanging over the club for an alleged breach of EFL rules over the sale of Hillsborough to club owner Dejphon Chansiri.

“I think they have been brilliant," said Monk, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s glamour FA Cup tie with Manchester City.

“Quite rightly we have received criticism that we deserve, fully. We have to take that on the chin and take that properly.

“But I actually think they have been fantastic. A lot of teams are in worse situations than us, but when you’re at a big club and a historic club the expectation is extremely high no matter what.

“I have said it before, the culture of football and the difference now are time frames are very short.

“Tolerance towards bad runs and results is very, very short and I actually think they have stuck with the team very, very well considering this is obviously perceived as a really difficult moment for us in a period which is too long to satisfy in the time frames you’re working in football now.

“But we’re fighting hard. All I can promise is that we’re fighting as hard as we can to come through it and we’re sticking together.

“I’m here to give my all for these players, for this club and these fans and knowing we’re working as hard as we can to come through it and get back to the levels we know we are capable of and we’ve already shown.”