Sheffield Wednesday – Send The Owls Down?

Cardiff City face Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow with the Owls holding onto their Championship place with their fingertips and needing a win to set up a final day survival showdown with Crystal Palace where the losers would find themselves in League one next year.

A win for Cardiff City would strengthen Palace’s position and mean they were safe if they could beat West Brom on Monday. Both are big clubs and between the two I’d say we have more affection for Sheffield Wednesday, especially with the presence of former Bluebirds captain Darren Purse – a likeable and wholehearted performer who was popular if error-prone whilst at Cardiff City. Add to that the Roger Johnson (he ended up in hopsital after a reckless and gutless elbow from Claude Davis) incident and numerous fiery encounters against the Eagles and some fans might see us doing Wednesday a favour.

However, last season Hillsborough was the scene of our shocking final collapse as we capitulated during the run in and never looked like gaining the win that would have seen us safe. In fact, a draw would have done but Johnson’s late strike against the nervy, jaded and out-of-form Bluebirds saw us cruelly lose out to Preston North End by a single goal. A year on, those are still painful memories for the players and fans alike.

Whilst we expected no favours from Wednesday, the travelling Bluebirds were shocked by the peculiar management of the situation whereby Preston’s scores were announced (in full hearing of the players) and greeted by loud cheers from the Wednesday faithful. In short, the Owls revelled in our failure and contrived to see our players, management and fans humiliated.

This time round its different, it’s Cardiff City who have little to play for while Wednesday are scrapping for survival. A club of the Owls’ stature and history should not be in League One – but if the Bluebirds can deliver a blow to their hopes on Saturday – it will bring half a smile to the faces of those who suffered last year and endured a heartbreaking busride home.