The Under-23s’ six-game winning run ended after a 2-1 defeat at home to Crewe on Monday and head coach Neil Thompson has called for an immediate response.
Goals from the Alex’s Billy Bingham and Charlie Clark overturned Gary Hooper’s opener in the narrow win for the visitors.
Thompson said: “I didn’t think we performed to our potential. Conditions were difficult – windy, the pitch was a bit bobbly. But it was the same for both sides.
“Technically we weren’t great. We lacked that fluency and I don’t think we played at the right tempo.
“We got our noses in front, and that was about people pressing in the right areas. But then we couldn’t build on it.”
But Thompson has reiterated his faith in the players’ abilities to trigger a positive response, saying:
“These kind of things happen in football and it’s important we react positively.
“We have had a great run and the lads have been superb.
“One run has ended and now we have to start another one.”
Despite the Crewe setback, the Owls remain at the summit of the Professional Development League Two table and next up is a trip to Hull on Monday 6 March.