'Too good to go down' but former Sheffield Wednesday striker says play-offs are still on

Before football’s shutdown, Sheffield Wednesday were in 15th place in the Championship, eight points off the play-off positions and 11 points away from the relegation zone.
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor with his old team mate Clinton MorrisonFormer Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor with his old team mate Clinton Morrison
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor with his old team mate Clinton Morrison

All of that would point towards, when the campaign is eventually played out, a mid-table finish to a season that had so much early promise.

However, according to one former Wednesday forward, Owls fans shouldn’t rule out a late push for the play-offs.

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It’s an opinion that will surprise many but while Neil Mellor, who spent a season at Hillsborough in 2010/11, knows from experience that it can happen.

"It has been a disappointing season,” Mellor told Alan Biggs’ Talking Sport programme. “When you look at where Sheffield Wednesday are positioned, they are very much mid-table.

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"I think there is going to be a big transition in the summer when the season eventually finishes. I think I read somewhere that 16 players, as many as that, in the current squad are out of contract. You wonder how many will be reviewed and given new contracts.”

"There is still a chance,” added Mellor who made it through to the play-offs in 2009 with Preston before losiing out to Sheffield United. “There are nine games to go and Sheffield Wednesday are eight points off those play-off positions.

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"I got into the play-offs with Preston, with three games to go we were six points off those play-offs. It is still possible.

"Wednesday have to go on a very, very good run to do so.

"The way they have played so far this season, it is difficult to see that.

"They are not going to get relegated. They are far too good for that but I think the fact they have not been competing for the play-off positions has to go down as a disappointing season."

Like the rest of football, the EFL is currently in shutdown with the news coming out yesterday that clubs hae been told that players should not return to training earlier than May 16 and that some games are likely to be played behind closed doors.

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