Sheffield Wednesday took a significant stride towards safety on Saturday, defeating West Brom 3-0 in front of a packed Hillsborough Stadium.
Sheffield Wednesday’s fate lies in their own hands.
Danny Rohl has done an outstanding job since taking over for Xisco Munoz earlier this season, despite inheriting a team that had only three points from 11 games and appeared destined for relegation.
However, his coaching ability has helped many players grow, and the team’s performance has a real structure and organization.
That was clear on Saturday, when the Owls easily defeated Albion, who are in the top six and aiming to gain promotion.
Wednesday is already three points ahead of the bottom three, and they know that one point will ensure the club’s continued existence in the second division. Furthermore, if Birmingham or Plymouth do not win on the final day, they will remain in the league, with the two teams facing Norwich and Hull respectively.
Atdhe Nuhiu responds to Barry Bannan’s message.
So there was a genuine feel-good element at Hillsborough on Saturday, and skipper Bannan summed it up in an emotive Instagram post as he looked ahead to the ‘cup final’ at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
“What a day yesterday was for the final home game of the season. A large family working together in one direction is powerful. I love these guys. There is one cup final left. “See you all next Saturday.”
That drew a response from numerous Wednesday supporters, including popular former striker Atdhe Nuhiu, who simply added a love heart emoji to the important Wednesday man’s remark.
Even though Nuhiu departed Wednesday three years ago, the club remains near to his heart, which is reasonable given his seven-year stint in Yorkshire, where the huge target man made over 250 appearances in blue and white.
Since leaving, the 34-year-old has spent a season at APOEL and is currently playing in Austria’s top league with Altach.
Sheffield Wednesday must complete the job.
You can be certain that Nuhiu will have one eye on the Sunderland game on Saturday, and it is critical that Wednesday complete the task.
There is no doubt that the Owls’ victory over the Baggies was significant, and it puts them in a strong position as they seek to maintain their Championship status. But this is football, and the league’s unpredictability is what keeps it interesting.
Ultimately, Wednesday would have snapped your hand off to be in this situation a few months ago, and Rohl is relieved that his team has control over their own destiny. That means he doesn’t have to check scores elsewhere, and they’ll be confident in their chances against a Sunderland side that has been erratic and has nothing to play for.
So, Wednesday will travel to Wearside in high spirits, and it would be an incredible success for the players and staff if they are not in the relegation zone by 2:30pm on Saturday.
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