On May 4th 2008 at 2.10pm, the 30,000 or so Sheffield Wednesday fans packed into Hillsborough dreaded the thought of a return to League One as Darren Huckerby gave Norwich City an early lead at the hosts’ expense.
Just 14 minutes later, fears were allayed when Deon Burton equalised to set the Owls on their way to a 4-1 victory, preserving their Championship status and leaving them in a lofty 16th position.
At this moment fans of the S6 club are again quivering with the possibility that their team may return to the third tier of English football. However, the Owls fortunes are still very much in their own hands and therefore, arguably in a more promising position to stave off relegation than a couple of years ago.
The only team who stands between survival and downfall is The Owls themselves.
There are similarities however, with loanees integral for survival. Last time it was Franck Songo’o, Adam Bolder and Ben Sahar now Eddie Nolan, Tom Soares and Luke Varney are charged with the task of keeping the club in the Championship.
All the clichés come out; every game being a cup final and such like but all the clubs within touching distance of the relegation places are humming the same tune if you listen to the quotes. Some say Wednesday have the hardest run-in culminating in a last day game at Hillsborough against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace. But does it truly matter who stands in the way of Championship safety?
Granted there have been disappointing performances, but there have also been games which have put the loyal supporters on the edge of their seats as Wednesday looked nothing like a team in such a difficult position. No-one would have foretold that the Owls would taste victory in the first three games of Irvine’s tenure, but then again was a 5-0 drubbing away at Reading expected either?
Disappointingly though, the recent unbeaten run of six games was destroyed by a rather toothless performance against Bristol City, although on the positive, chances were created.
Some may say the team have a psychological problem, or even a split personality. But since Alan Irvine took the role of manager performances have undoubtedly improved; there is a steel about the side which had eroded prior to Alan Irvine’s arrival.
Wednesday can survive in the Championship, but I suppose it’s all down to whether we see Doctor Jekyll or Mr Hyde in blue and white during the run in…only time will tell.