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"In the past losses after games I have said 'we didn't deserve it' but today I am going to say we deserved what we got," he said. "We looked like rabbits in the headlights at times, we were panicking and the confidence drained quickly.
"When you have lost five games there is that fragile mentality, and they are you players. They are a good bunch of players and last year you saw how good they can be when they are full of confidence, but now you've seen how bad they can be without it.
"It's going to take a huge task and a huge call from the players to pull together and get us out of this mire. Tonight we didn't look like we were going to get back into it and it is the third game in which we haven't scored, but it is the first time we haven't really created the chances to force their goalkeeper into a decent save.
"There's no point in slaughtering the players because when you're fragile you're fragile and the only way you are going to turn this around is by regrouping as a bunch of players and when you get a bit of luck and the result you need it will be an unbelievable result for the players.
"Tonight, the second goal came just after half time. My most reliable player of the season so far (Frankie Simek) has made a mistake. That sums up our season up and you could see the confidence drain from the players.
"We may have to change our style of play and our philosophy because after tonight's game our confidence has drained that badly that I don't think I've got the players to go out there and play entertaining football to win games. I think we are going to have to scrap one out and defend as a team."
It's very much a reversal of a time last season when Sheffield Wednesday begun their march that almost took them to the play offs whilst we were wondering where the next win was going to come from.
Now Steve Cotterill has seen the Clarets move into the top six after this third win in five games and he was happy enough after this win, and also because of the form of one of his summer signings Robbie Blake.
"That's the best Robbie has played and it is no coincidence that he scored a goal. There have been parts of his game that I feel he has lost in the two years he has been away and one main ingredient is the hard work.
"If he thinks the balls are going to drop for him willy nilly and he is going to whack them in, it is not going to happen. That is the hardest he has worked and he deserved his goal."
Looking at the game overall he added: "They are all good wins and they are all tough games, so we are very pleased because we know what type of run Sheffield Wednesday have been on and, to be honest, when you play someone like that you are on a hiding to nothing. If you don't win people think you should because of their run, so we are pleased.
"The clean sheet was terrific and I think the back four was probably the best they have been as a unit this season. At any stage they had dangerous forwards on the pitch and they had to do well, which they did. I thought they were good and we attacked the first ball, so that was good defending."
He also had a word for his midfield two. "Chris McCann scores goals, and that's why he gets noticed, but in there alongside their two centre midfielders I thought he player well alongside Graham Alexander. It wasn't bad really with our right back playing central midfield, who I thought was absolutely superb again."