Dave Jones says the first half performance by his Wednesday side was the worst he had seen during his management career so far.
The Owls went into the break at Oldham in the first round of the Capital One Cup two goals down and having missed a penalty to compound a miserable opening period display.
But despite turning the game on its head with a stirring second half show to emerge 4-2 victors, Jones was still seething when he faced the press post-match.
The manager said: “It’s the worst I have seen and I think some of them thought they just had to turn up.
“But once the game started, they soon discovered otherwise. Oldham were first to the ball, first to the challenge while we just didn’t put in a tackle and then missing a penalty just summed things up.
“You have asked me about me about the second half display but all I’m thinking of right now is the first and if we play anything like that in the Championship then we will never, if it all, get the chance to come back from two goals down.”
On the plus side, Jones did have some positive words for striker Chris O’Grady who came on from the bench to strike two goals to help the Owls into round two.
He added: “Chris did really well when he came on, he gave everything he has got but that is the measure of the player, he is a consummate professional and tonight he got his rewards.”