Neil Thompson on Sheffield Wednesday's safety bid going down to the wire

But he is tacit enough to admit that it could be pretty high.

Thompson’s Owls side, who welcome Swansea at Hillsborough on Saturday - when the hosts will be chasing their sixth successive home league win - are one of several sides at the bottom end of the table who are in a decent run of results.

As it stands, only third-placed Swansea and leaders Brentford have taken more points over the last eight games than Wednesday’s tally of 16.

Rotherham United, Derby County, Nottingham Forest and QPR - sides who are also in the relegation picture - are also in the top nine in terms of ‘form sides’ in the division over the past eight matches.

Admitting that the battle for survival could very well go right down to the wire, Thompson said: “It looks like that, doesn’t it.

“We have won five out of the last seven and six out of the last nine and we are just back in the pack. That tells you what is happening down there and teams are getting results and really energizing themselves and are up for the fight and that is not going to change.”

As for a specific points requirement, he is philosophical.

He added: “How long is a piece of string? We know very well that we have some very tough games coming up. But who knows where you are going to get your victories from.

“You are going to get wins and defeats and it is important that when you do get setbacks, like we have done recently, you react to that.

“If teams keep winning, it could be sixty (points), who knows. A lot of teams are winning at the bottom at the minute and we are having to keep winning to keep tabs on everyone and keep dragging people into it.

“What you always find is that teams get out of the situation and teams get dragged in from nowhere and cannot get a win and I know that from my time at Ipswich years ago.

“We were flying high in the table in our first season in the Premier League and then just avoided relegation when you are looking for your next win. There will be a lot of twists and turns.”

Wednesday’s form has seen many push Thompson’s claims for the full-time position, but he says that, as it stands, there are no updates.

He said: “Not at this moment in time. We have had a good run of results and that has been positive for everyone at the club in terms of getting us back in the pack and it has been tough.

“That is not my decision, but the people above me,

“At the end of the day, it does not become a conversation until anything gets resolved.

“At the minute, everyone here - the players, coach and all the staff - are doing a really good job in terms of getting us away from the bottom of the table.

That has been the focus of everybody and whatever happens is a by-product of that. It is not my decision.”