Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday set to make unwanted history in season of misery
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Not least because the devoted fan bases of either club have been unable to cheer on their team, of course, though given the way things have gone you would forgive some of those fans for feeling more than a little thankful.
Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League was finally confirmed last night after their narrow 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
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Hide AdAnd hours later, their city rivals Wednesday squandered a 1-0 lead and a 70-minute man advantage to concede in the 87th minute and draw 1-1 with Bristol City.
The two points dropped left the Owls seven points shy of the Championship safety places with only four matches to play. And while the fact they are due to play fourth-bottom Derby County on the last day leaves some crumbs of optimism, it’s widely accepted that survival looks a long way away.
Defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday, if out-of-form Derby are able to win at Preston North End would see relegation to League One confirmed.
And that would make history in that it would be the very first time both Sheffield clubs have been relegated in the same season.
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Hide AdThe closest that has come to happening before was during the 1975/76 season when the Blades finished bottom of the First Division and suffered the embarrassment of having relegation confirmed in March.
Down in Division Three, Wednesday struggled all year and went into a last day shootout with Southend in which the victors would stay up. A 2-1 win saw the Owls retain third tier status.
A similar shootout seems unlikely.