Turner thinks of new excuse!

The Owls and Stockport battled in swirling winds as well as a rough playing surface in Cheshire, just like every other team in the north of England had to adapt to on Saturday, but The Hatters prevailed in a scrappy encounter.

Rickie Lambert’s stunning first-half piledriver was the only moment of quality in a match bereft of ability, and although Wednesday had their chances, they were nowhere near good enough on the day.

Player’s attitudes have been blamed this season, referees have been used as an excuse, Turner has accounted for the mounting injury crisis and speculation hanging over the club and certain players for inept showings so far.

Even the paying fans have been held ‘responsible’ for some shocking performances from their heroes, but blaming the conditions against County was about as predictable as Dean Smith being outpaced by an injured striker who has a ten-yard deficit to make up on the snail-paced Owls skipper.

Turner moaned: “We knew on the way over that it wouldn’t be a great game with the weather conditions, and with Stockport battling for their lives. The goal was much better than what the actual game was, but the pitch was poor.

“It was always going to be a day where the players who adapted to the conditions best would win. We didn’t have that sort of player on the day.

“We didn’t handle it well, and I felt that the players, attitude wise, could concern you before you arrived but they showed the right attitude, but we haven’t got the team who can play on that sort of pitch, and it showed. They did show the right attitude but we just didn’t play well."

The match was soured even further with crowd trouble started by a handful of Wednesday supporters who dressed like they were attending the Sherlock Holmes Appreciation Society annual convention.