Must win? Didn't feel like it - Ratings as Sheffield Wednesday leave their fate in Derby County's hands

It was billed as a must-win game, but it didn’t feel like it from a Sheffield Wednesday perspective.
Sheffield Wednesday faced Nottingham Forest on Saturday. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)Sheffield Wednesday faced Nottingham Forest on Saturday. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Sheffield Wednesday faced Nottingham Forest on Saturday. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The Owls didn’t play like a team fighting for their lives at the foot of the Championship table, and the 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest – who had nothing left to play for – means that a draw for Derby County later this afternoon would relegate them to League One.

Wednesday laboured away in the game and had plenty of good luck as Keiren Westwood saved a penalty and also got lucky when the visitors had another penalty shout turned down in the second half.

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Here are out ratings after another horrible afternoon at Hillsborough:

Westwood – 6

Forest didn’t ask too much of him throughout most of the game, with most of their efforts being off target. He did make an excellent save from the spot, but it was from a penalty that was partly of his making – some erratic kicking from him.

Palmer – 6

Did ok playing out of position on the right side of a back three, and was tidy for the most part. Picked some good passes and didn’t do much wrong.

Hutchinson – 6

A tidy enough performance from the centre back, who made some good interventions and tried to get a couple of attacks going as well.

Börner – 5

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A couple of dangerous bits of play from the German, who looked far from comfortable more than once. Almost gifted Grabban a goal.

Paterson – 5

Wasn’t able to affect the game as much as he’d have liked to, and wasn’t utilised for large parts of the game whilst out at right wing back.

Bannan – 6

Far from at his best. Some untidy passing and touches from him in a game where the Owls needed him the most. Will be disappointed not to have made more of an impact.

Pelupessy – 7

One of Wednesday’s better performers on the day. Won plenty of battles in the middle of the park and rarely gave the ball away. Tidy enough performance from him.

Reach – 5

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Largely ineffectual today on the left hand side. Had a couple of opportunities to try and force a goal, but his decision making let him down a bit. Was largely at fault for the penalty.

Harris – 5

Had plenty of the ball in the first half, but was clumsy in possession and gave the ball away far too much.

Green – 5

Didn’t hit the same heights that he showed against Middlesbrough and was taken off in the second half. Clearly very disappointed as he came off, but wasn’t able to make much of an attacking impact.

Windass – 7

Easily Wednesday’s best attacking outlet once again. Put in a real shift and forced a good save from Brice Samba. Seemed to get frustrated with the lack of service, and looked to take it upon himself more than once.

Rhodes – 5

Came on to try and get a goal, had a handful of decent chances but wasn’t able to take any of them.