Well here we are, the final game of the season. A season that for many reasons I think most will be glad to see the back of. It all comes down to Saturday, if Sheffield Wednesday are to remain in the Championship then they will need to do something they haven't done since 2006, win at Pride Park.
Déjà vu
Casting our minds back to 2010, Wednesday were in a similar situation. We needed to win on the final day against Crystal Palace at Hillsborough while the Eagles only needed a draw. Of course the difference this time is Wednesday will still need help from elsewhere whereas 2010 was a straight shoot-out between the Owls and Palace.
That day of course turned into a very disappointing one, a 2-2 draw meant Wednesday were relegated, of course another coincidence from 11 years ago was that Palace had been deducted 10 points for going into administration. This time of course it's Wednesday who had had to deal with a points deficit.
So it all sets up for an interesting day from the narrative point of view, do I think we can do it? Yeah I do, not because I think we're a great side or that we've been unjustly put in this position. It's because the Championship is mental, it's a division that gets crazier by the year and a final day dramatic win wouldn't be so out of the question.
Derby and Rotherham
Lets have a look at our two main relegation rivals. If there happens to be a Wycombe fan reading this, yes I'm well aware you can still survive. But realistically it's between Derby, Rotherham and Wednesday.
Now oddly enough of the three Wednesday actually go into this game as the form team, neither Derby or Rotherham have been able to capitalise on the chances to condemn the Owls to the third tier. Something to cling onto heading into Saturday. We could have gone on each of the last three occasions we've played and we're somehow still alive.
Derby have lost six in a row and while they have some dangerous players I don't think there is much to fear there, like Wednesday they look brittle, a goal against seems to knock the stuffing out of them. Interestingly they haven't won since Erik Alonso's proposed takeover of the Rams was announced. Another factor to add to the growing list.
As for Rotherham, they know a win at least sends down Wednesday. They're away at Cardiff, a decent side who I don't think will let off. If ever we needed a favour from Mick McCarthy it's now. Aden Flint winner? Would be nice wouldn't it? It'll mean little if we don't do our job of course and with Wednesday's away from this season you can't really put too much faith on that happening. But when there's a chance, you have to hope.
12:30, Pride Park, Saturday
Derby away hasn't been the scene of many great moments. Since returning to the Championship in 2012 Wednesday have never won at Pride Park, drawing four and losing four. With some awful luck in there as well. Richard Keogh's blatant handball off the line in 2016/17 standing out for me as the worst. If ever there was a time to end that horrible run then it's now.
Both teams will be nervous, I don't think it'll be a thriller. Derby can't really afford to play for a draw as a draw and a Rotherham win would send them down. Wednesday have to win, that's one advantage I think the Owls have, we must win the game where as Derby don't have to but that indecisiveness from what should be an advantage can sometimes come into play in these scenarios could be a stumbling block for the Rams.
Personally it's hard to pick a favourite, Wednesday are in slightly better form, but Derby had the points advantage, they're at home, and certain off the field issues that have come to light in the last few days regarding Wednesday it might just mean that Derby are slight favourites. However I'd say a draw is the most likely outcome. Obviously I hope I'm wrong on that score but if I was a neutral I'd actually predict a draw between Derby and Wednesday and probably a draw between Cardiff and Rotherham meaning the Owls and Millers would go down.
There's a lot to talk about with Wednesday on and off the pitch, I'll do a couple of these blogs over the summer to have a look at some of it. For now, lets just get behind the lads, one last game of this weirdest of seasons. Forget everything else, lets just hope we stay up and we'll go from there.
Hopefully we'll end that Pride Park run and remain a Championship club next season.
Thanks for reading,
Tom
WAWAW
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