Sam Hutchinson and Liam Palmer were involved in an angry tiff in Sheffield Wednesday's defeat at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, according to journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Owls suffer worrying defeat

The Owls suffered a humbling afternoon in the southwest at the weekend, losing 3-0 in a game that many would have expected them to win.

Wednesday never got going at any point and some of the early-season optimism is threatening to evaporate, which will no doubt worry Darren Moore.

The Latest: Howson makes key claim

Writing for Yorkshire Live on Sunday, Howson claimed that Hutchinson "gave a rollicking" to Palmer after he had lost possession, leading to the 32-year-old getting a yellow card for a late tackle as a result of the turnover.

The journalist added that "frustration was etched all over" Hutchinson's face following the incident as his frustration boiled over on a bitterly disappointing afternoon.

The Verdict: Big response needed

It has been an sobering couple of matches either side of the international break for Wednesday - Morecambe beat them 1-0 late last month - and a reaction is now needed.

The Owls looked like strong promotion contenders in the early weeks of the campaign and it's now time for them to prove that this is just a minor blip. Victory at home to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday afternoon is now essential - if they drop points there, concern will really start to grow.

Hutchinson and Palmer's tiff could be viewed as alarming, with the players visibly losing their cool and turning on one another, but it does at least show that they care, and now is the time for Wednesday's team spirit to shine through in a positive manner.

In other news, Sheff Wed have reportedly opened contract talks with one player. Find out who it is here.