Garry Monk has urged his Sheffield Wednesday players to avoid getting involved when teams like Fulham employ ‘dark arts’ tactics.
Wednesday’s players, staff and supporters alike were left visibly annoyed by Fulham’s attempts to grind out a 1-0 win at Hillsborough on Saturday.
The game saw several on-pitch confrontations and breaks in play before the home side eventually equalised through Atdhe Nuhiu’s stoppage-time header.
Asked if it was frustrating to see Fulham’s scheming go virtually unpunished, Monk told BBC Radio Sheffield: “Yeah, but look, I think what’s important is that there’s an understanding from the players.
“It’s the away team’s prerogative. They’ve got a one-goal lead. I think the learning process for us is to understand not to get involved in that.
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“Your actual reaction to it, where you all come into it and there’s a few bodies around, the key is to actually avoid that because that’s only lessening the time.
“That happens. The lesson from that one is not to get involved in it, try and get the game restarted as quickly as possible regardless of if it’s the wrong or right decision.”
The Fulham manager Scott Parker. (Photo by David Shipman – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Monk went on to say he will speak to his players with a view to overcoming such incidents in future.
Nuhiu’s goal ensured that Sheffield Wednesday remain above Fulham in the Championship standings, and that the new Owls manager remains unbeaten after overseeing one win and a draw in his first two games in charge.
Wednesday host Everton in the League Cup third round on Tuesday, before Saturday’s league visit to Middlesbrough.
