Blades chief left staggered by kick-off timings

The Blades and the Owls are locked in a battle for second spot in League One and just one point separates the sides with two games to go.

If the Owls, who kick-off against Brentford at 3pm, lose, it will leave the Blades, who kick-off at 5.20pm, knowing victory secures promotion to the Championship.

Wilson believes that, in the interest of fairness, both games should kick-off at the same time – as they always do now on the final day of the league season.

“At this stage of the season, we should all kick-off at the same time. I know I wouldn’t be happy if it was the other way around,” he said.

“This is no different to a last game of the season and what difference does a week make? I just don’t feel it’s fair.”

The decision to switch the fixture was announced over a month ago and is equally important for Stevenage, who are battling with Notts County, Carlisle United and Brentford for the final play-off spot.

“My only concern is how we do,” stressed Wilson. “But I do not think it’s right that teams should kick-off before others at this stage of the season.

“It’s happened twice to us this season but not affected us,” he stated.

“On those occasions, there were games left off but, this time, there is only one game left and it is very defining.”

With little chance of keeping the Owls result a secret prior to kick-off, Wilson will be allowing his players to keep track of the scoreline via radios or television news.

He openly admits that it will affect his side’s approach to the Brentford game.

“The lads will watch it, of course they will,” he said. “They will go out knowing exactly what they have got to do. It does affect how you approach parts of the game. It might even affect the line-up. The team sheet will be going in as late as possible!”

Wilson is adamant that the switch will only put added pressure on the Owls.

“Does it add more pressure to us? I don’t think it can add more pressure on us,” he said. “But I still don’t think you should be putting things in people’s mind prior to our game. It’s difficult. We are under enough pressure as it is.

“Possibly, it loses your focus or it could make you desperate to get a result? It can work both ways. I just don’t think its fair – but that’s TV for you!”

Asked whether the Blades would have complained to the Football League if they had been in Wednesday’s situation, Wilson said: “There would be no chance of changing it because it is dictated by the TV. They dictate everything. It is no good losing sleep or arguing about it, you wouldn’t get anywhere. But it would have to be understood at the authorities that, perhaps, this is not a level playing field.

“The emphasis is (always) on the last game of the season to get everyone on track and get it all right – but seasons are not just shaped on the last day of the season,” he added. “But it’s the way football is nowadays. Every game in the Premier League is on that platform with teams playing Sunday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and knowing what they need to do.”

Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones, meanwhile, was keen to play down talk of any problems sparked by the staggered kick-off times.

Jones, whose side will only win automatic promotion if the Blades slip up in the last two games, said: “You can only do what is in front of you. They know what they need to do regardless of our result. The (kick-off) times have changed over the years. I’ve kicked off at 11am, 12 o’clock, 5.30pm, I even played at 10pm once, it was abroad.

“It doesn’t matter. You adapt to it,” he said. “We know what we have got to do and I am sure the teams around us will know what they have got to do.”

The Blades, meanwhile, are still awaiting news on the fitness of striker Richard Cresswell, who missed last weekend’s defeat at Milton Keynes Dons with a shoulder injury.

Still reeling from the jailing of leading marksman Ched Evans for rape, the Blades have lost another striker this week with on-loan Will Hoskins returning to Brighton and Hove Albion for groin surgery.

Cresswell’s availability would be a lift for the Blades but, while Wilson admitted there has been ‘improvement’ in his condition, there is still no guarantee he will be ready to play.

“We will have to wait and see, he is back in training but it’s difficult to say,” said Wilson with a sigh. “But it’s not always strikers in the striking positions. Different systems can work well for you and we have players who can play in different positions.”

Hoskins had partnered Chris Porter in attack last weekend but Wilson’s other options this time include former England striker James Beattie, who has yet to score in 17 appearances this season, Danny Philliskirk, who has been on loan with Oxford United this season, or winger Michael O’Halloran, who is on loan from Bolton Wanderers.

“It’s a matter of getting the right balance,” said Wilson. “If we do that, we have proved on many occasions this season that we can create goals.

“We are disappointed to lose Will but you could see last weekend that he wasn’t firing on all cylinders. He will probably be frustrated at not playing many games but the underlying problems perhaps affected his form.”