Caretaker boss Lee Bullen was left embarrassed, angered and upset after a shocking home display saw us crash to a 3-0 home defeat against struggling Burton.
The result, Wednesday’s fifth reverse in the last six games, surely signals the end of any faint play-off hopes and the greater focus has now turned towards the other end of the table, with ourselves dropping to 16th place and only six points above the relegation zone.
Joe Wildsmith saved a Burton penalty after just five minutes but we were a goal down shortly before half time when shambolic defending allowed full back Tom Flanagan to run through the Owls rearguard and score with ease.
We went two-down shortly after half time, Lloyd Dyer sprinting clear to net on the counter attack and a woeful day at S6 was completed shortly before the final whistle when Tom Naylor turned in the third Burton goal from inside the six-yard box.
At the other end, Wednesday again lacked the passion, pace, guile and cutting edge to put Burton under any concerted pressure and ex-Hillsborough favourite, Stephen Bywater, was hardly troubled in the visitors’ goal.
A clearly emotional Bullen said: “I’m absolutely 100 per cent embarrassed by that performance.
“You wouldn’t see goals lost like that in a school playground.
“We had a head-to-head with the players in the dressing room afterwards and gave them their platform. To be fair to them, they have held their hands up … but that’s an easy thing to do after it has happened.
“The first goal is a joke really, for someone to walk 50 yards with the ball through four or five players without anyone laying a glove on him is embarrassing.
“We said at half time, keep the pressure on and hopefully we’ll get the breaks. But we also said the last thing you do is leave the back door open because you know Burton will soak up the pressure and hit you on the counter attack.
“However, only a few minutes into the second half and we are 2-0 down.”
He added: “You’ve got to do the basics right, you’ve got to tackle someone when he’s running through, And, if you’re a centre back you keep your shape, you don’t pass it and go on an overlap.”
Looking to the appointment of a full-time successor to Carlos Carvalhal, Bullen said: “The sooner the new coach is appointed the better … but I’ve just said to the players that people are playing for their futures. A new guy is coming in but after performances like that what is he going to think. And I am gutted to be saying that.”
On the injury front, George Boyd is back in full training after his shoulder problem and he could make his comeback in the FA Cup third round tie at Carlisle next Saturday.
Jack Hunt limped off during the second half against Burton with a recurrence of his knee problem and Glenn Loovens and Ross Wallace both played despite suffering from sickness, Loovens being subbed at half time.