'Until we are dead' Sheffield Wednesday out to prevent any repeat of scene Sheffield United loved
It was a scene that will sit heavy in the memory of many a Sheffield Wednesday figure - and was one of their own making. But the Owls are plotting to set about making amends with their home supporters at the first possible opportunity.
In the minutes after the final whistle blew, as Sheffield United players and staff gathered for a photo and as the reality of another derby day defeat had begun to set in to the blue side of the city, Chris Wilder gestured towards the empty seats at S6 and flicked a look of faux confusion towards a triumphant away end.
On an afternoon that served-up a curiously downbeat effort from a Wednesday side that has done so much to scrap and battle against the constraints so heavily weighed against them this season, the majority of its fanbase had long since expressed its disgust through their exits. It’s a scene Henrik Pedersen’s side will be fighting to avoid again, starting with this afternoon’s clash with Preston North End.
Wednesday evening’s defeat at Millwall signalled the start of the Owls response to the Steel City downfall, with the team producing a much more competitive performance and running a combined 12km more then their effort on last Sunday. What’s done is done and Pedersen has not shied away from the need to fire back with a much improved outing in front of their home fans this time out. They’ll have to do so with the fatigue of a menacingly busy week behind them.
The Owls boss told The Star: “There was a big, big hunger and we spoke before the Millwall; the best sorry we could give the fans for the derby was to go out show that how proud we are to play for this football club and to give everything again. To show the standards of giving everything until we are dead, until we are done.
“We were disappointed because this feeling was not there after the derby. We know that they will give everything tomorrow, in our third game in six days, they will do everything to make them proud again. We do not want to make them feel that they need to leave before the end of the game again. We want to have the chance to go around to say thank you for their support.”
The match is set to see the returns of Michael Smith and Pol Valentin to Hillsborough after their summer exits. Both players bring unique challenges and are the beneficiaries of a much lighter schedule in the last week than their guests, with Preston’s matches arriving on Friday, then Tuesday - compared to the Owls’ Sunday, Wednesday turnaround.
“He's a great player,” Pedersen said on Smith. “He was a great player for us and it is always difficult to play against him. He is a top, top guy and the same goes for Pol as well. I am really looking forward to seeing them again.”
There is an appreciation from the Wednesday fan base that their side is swimming against a mighty tide. Often the result has been secondary - the Owls must produce more than they did to prompt Wilder’s celebrations last weekend.