Sheffield Wednesday vs West Brom: One last Hillsborough push as Owls look to end season with a smile

Sheffield Wednesday return to Hillsborough on Saturday for the final game of the season, and there is one simple target left.

Give the home supporters a win.

The Owls have gone a full year without collecting three points in a league game at Hillsborough, but this weekend’s meeting with West Bromwich Albion offers one last chance to change that before the campaign comes to a close.

Henrik Pedersen has described the opportunity to finish the season with a home victory as a “huge motivation” for his players, and it should be. Whatever has gone before, a win in front of a packed Hillsborough would send supporters into the summer with something positive to hold onto.

The fixture is heading towards a sell-out and could be one of the biggest attended Championship games of the season. That alone says plenty about Wednesday supporters. The season has been tough, but the backing is still there, and Saturday has the feel of an afternoon where the crowd can help carry the team through one final push.

A different feeling around Hillsborough

There is also a sense that change could be close.

Potential new Sheffield Wednesday owner David Storch has arrived in the United Kingdom at the start of what could be a hugely important week for the club. Storch and his son, Michael, are hopeful of completing a deal to take ownership of the Owls before Saturday’s finale against West Brom.

Meetings are expected over the coming days, with potential co-owner Tom Costin and earmarked CEO David Bruce also involved in the process. Key figures connected to the proposed takeover are expected to attend the game at Hillsborough if things progress as hoped.

That gives the final day a different energy.

This is still a football match first, and the players’ focus will be on West Brom. But supporters know the wider picture. Wednesday are preparing for a reset, and the possibility of new ownership arriving before the final whistle of the season adds a real sense of anticipation.

After a year full of frustration, Saturday could feel like the first step towards something fresher. Not everything will be fixed in a day, but sometimes football gives you those moments where the mood shifts. A full Hillsborough, new faces potentially watching on, and a home win to finish the season would be a powerful way to draw a line under the campaign.

Wednesday have reasons to find one more performance

There have been difficult results recently, but there have also been signs that Wednesday can still put together a competitive performance.

The draw at Coventry City showed discipline and organisation. The point against Charlton Athletic at Hillsborough came with control and resilience, with Gabriel Otegbayo’s equaliser earning Wednesday something from the game. Even in the defeat at Oxford United, 17-year-old Will Grainger gave supporters a bright moment with his second-half goal.

Those are the things Wednesday need to take into Saturday.

Pedersen’s side will know they have to start with energy, stay switched on and give the crowd enough to respond to. Hillsborough can be a difficult place for visiting teams when the noise builds, and with a sell-out expected, there is every chance the atmosphere can become a major part of the afternoon.

The final third has not always clicked this season, but a final-day home game can take on a life of its own. A fast start, a few strong challenges, a young player giving the crowd something to shout about, and the mood can change quickly.

Wednesday do not need perfection. They need belief, tempo and the willingness to throw everything into one last home performance.

Maltby could get another chance to impress

There may also be another opportunity for Mackenzie Maltby to show what he can do.

The 21-year-old defender, who has come through the academy, made his first Championship appearance in the 4-1 defeat at Oxford after replacing Sean Fusire at half-time. It was a difficult game to come into, but Maltby did not let anyone down, and Henrik Pedersen explained afterwards that he wanted to see how the young centre-back would handle Championship football.

Pedersen also said he wanted Liam Palmer higher up the pitch, which helped explain the change. Cole McGhee was available from the bench and has featured more often this season, but the head coach felt it was a natural moment to give Maltby a look.

Whether Maltby gets another chance against West Brom may depend on Otegbayo’s fitness. The Republic of Ireland under-21 international missed the Oxford game with a calf issue, although Pedersen is hopeful he can return for Saturday.

Either way, it is another small storyline to watch. If Maltby is involved again, he will have the chance to build on his first Championship appearance in front of a huge home crowd. In a season where young players have had to grow quickly, another academy player stepping out at Hillsborough would give supporters something positive to get behind.

West Brom arrive safe and in good form

West Brom come to Hillsborough in decent shape after confirming their Championship safety.

The Baggies secured their place in the division with a goalless draw against Ipswich Town, following a convincing 3-0 win over Watford at The Hawthorns. They also won 2-0 away at Preston North End before that, so their recent form under interim boss James Morrison has been strong at exactly the right time.

Albion did have to deal with an immediate two-point deduction for breaching EFL financial rules, but their improvement on the pitch meant they were able to absorb that setback and still get the job done. They arrive at Hillsborough with safety secured and the chance to finish the season on a positive note.

Their main goal threat has been shared between Isaac Price and Aune Heggebo, who both have nine league goals from 45 appearances. Neither has run away with the scoring charts, but together they give West Brom two clear attacking outlets Wednesday will need to manage carefully.

Albion are expected to be without Jed Wallace, whose future remains uncertain as he approaches the end of his contract. The former Millwall winger has been an important figure at The Hawthorns since arriving in 2022, but injury could mean he has already played his final game for the club.

Even so, West Brom will arrive with confidence. That should make this a proper final-day test, but also a good opportunity for Wednesday. A win against a side finishing the season strongly would give the Owls exactly the kind of lift they need before the summer.

Honolulu Wednesday and one last push

Saturday has all the ingredients for one of those memorable final-day afternoons.

A packed Hillsborough. A possible new ownership group in attendance. Young players looking to make an impression. One last chance to end the home wait. And, of course, Honolulu Wednesday.

It has always been one of Wednesday’s great random chants, which is exactly why it works. Borrowed from “Honolulu Baby” from a Laurel and Hardy film, it is one of those songs that can roll around the ground for ages when the mood is right. It has a daft, happy energy to it, and that feels perfect for this weekend.

Honolulu Wednesday,
Where d’ya get those eyes?
Honolulu Wednesday,
In Paradise!

Expect Hawaiian shirts, inflatable bananas and plenty of final-day colour in the stands. After everything supporters have sat through this season, they deserve an afternoon with a bit of fun, noise and belief.

This does not need to be about pretending the season has been something it was not. It is about finishing with pride, backing the team, and creating the kind of atmosphere that reminds everyone what Hillsborough can be when Wednesday supporters are in full voice.

A home win would not rewrite the season, but it would matter going into the summer. It would give Pedersen’s players something to build on, give the fans a moment to enjoy, and maybe help the club step into whatever comes next with a little more energy.

One more game. One more big Hillsborough crowd. One more chance to send the season off properly.

WAWAW prediction

West Brom arrive in good form and with safety secured, so Wednesday will have to earn anything they get. But with a sell-out expected, a possible takeover backdrop and the final-day energy around Hillsborough, this feels like a day where the Owls can find something.

Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 West Bromwich Albion