Sheffield Wednesday suffered a 2-1 loss to local rivals Sheffield United which officially relegated the Owls to League One.
Sunday’s derby summed up Wednesday’s season, a battling performance full of heart just lacking quality, with the scenes after the final whistle of fans staying to applaud the players show how they have stuck by their team in difficult times.
One Wednesday fan said immediately after the game: “I’m happy with that. We did ourselves proud today.”
When the half-time whistle blew, Wednesday fans may have been fearing the worst after Harrison Burrows hit the Blades’ second, after Patrick Bamford had opened the scoring inside three-minutes.
But a rash Kalvin Philips red card early in the second half changed the game and Wednesday capitalised through Charlie McNeil to set up a captivating finish.
The Blades would hold on to officially relegate their arch rivals and make the Owls the first EFL team to ever be relegated in February.
Oliver Beveridge, a Wednesday fan said: “It’s obviously disappointing for any club to go do down but it’s not a shock to the system really.”
Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen echoed this optimism in difficult circumstances.
He said: “We were not relegated today. It is a big case as everyone knows but the boys who are left did everything they could and how they brought everything on the pitch today to do the best they can for the club. This is respectful.
“But of course it is painful to be relegated.”
The Owls have had a total of 18 points deducted so far this season for various financial issues off the pitch and currently sit with -7 points, firmly routed to the bottom of the table.
Pedersen went on to say: “It’s been a tough tough season. And what we can control is getting the best possible out of the situation where we are.
“How the players are working and how the staff are working, how the coaches are working and how the employees in our club in general are working in this situation is amazing.”
Despite match boycotts and fan protests, Wednesday fans have consistently supported their club and players throughout the season.
One fan, who has been following Wednesday for 64-years, said: “We will be there for the next 64-years as well as the next matches, if God gives me that kind of longevity.”
When asked about the former Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri they said: “You wouldn’t be able to publish it because it’d be too rude.”
“We are not rude people, we promise.”
It is clear to see who the fans hold to account for the clubs current position.
Looking forward to next season their is clearly some optimism amongst fans, but they are under no illusion of the size of the task for the new owners coming in.
Mr Beveridge said: “They are still waiting for a new owner to step in, once that happens that might help a little bit because the funding is obviously not there.
“I reckon next season they focus on just staying in and around the play-offs and staying competitive in a rebuild season hopefully.”
