Jones looking to Hillsborough faithful to roar Owls over the line

The Owls’ promotion fate is now in their own hands after they leapfrogged Steel City rivals United on a dramatic afternoon.

A 2-1 win at Brentford meant the Blades needed to win also at home to Stevenage to remain in the second automatic promotion place but were held to a 2-2 draw.

The upshot is victory for Wednesday against Wycombe Wanderers at Hillsborough on the final day will be enough to book a return to the Championship regardless of how United fare at Exeter City.

Jones, who has claimed nine wins and 29 points from his 11 games in charge, said: “We rode our luck at times against Brentford but that is a sign of a good team.

“It isn’t about the performance all the time, it is about getting a result – especially at this stage of a season.

“We really dug in at times to get the result, which is what it is all about, and there were a lot of tired bodies in the dressing room.

“Before kick-off, it was always about taking it to the last day. We had to win and I set my stall out by naming four strikers on the bench.

“As a team, we worked hard and it has been a good week.”

After edging an entertaining game at sodden Griffin Park, the Wednesday players watched the Sheffield United v Stevenage game on their return bus journey north. Blades being held to a draw means the Owls lead their bitter rivals by one point with just one game to go.

Jones hopes a bumper crowd at Hillsborough can cheer his side on to victory against Wycombe.

He said: “I thought our fans were magnificent and stuck with the team. If we had not been limited in terms of tickets, I think we could have brought 6,000-7,000 down to Brentford.

“I have nothing but admiration for the fans and it was great seeing them in fancy dress as we arrived on the team bus.

“Let’s hope we can give them what they want next week.”

On the final-day visit of Wycombe to S6, Jones added: “I played at Hillsborough when there were sixty-odd thousand there for Everton v Liverpool in the (FA Cup) semi-final.

“If there is 38,000 there next week, it will be exactly the same atmosphere and that is what we want.”

Wednesday’s win at Griffin Park came courtesy of a cheeky 38th minute free-kick by Keith Treacy and a second-half header from Miguel Llera.

The two goals sandwiched a 62nd-minute penalty by Bradford-born Bees striker Clayton Donaldson and, on the balance of play and number of chances created, the home side could consider themselves unfortunate to lose.

Not only did former Leeds United midfielder Jonathan Douglas hit the crossbar with a chance that seemed easier to score but Karleigh Osborne spurned two excellent openings.

Stephen Bywater also pulled off two fine saves to deny Donaldson in the second half to earn rich praise from his manager.

Jones said: “It (Bywater’s second effort on 81 minutes) was a match-winning save by Stephen.

“He had long spells with nothing to do so it is brilliant that he pulled off the save when we needed him.”

On the game itself, Jones added: “It was an open game but sometimes fortune favours the brave. That is what happened against Brentford.

“We had to win and we did. Now we have to do exactly the same again next week.

“Everyone is always going to be nervous at this stage of the season.

“But we got the opening goal and it settled us down. It was a great goal, too. Keith spotted the goalkeeper was too far over.

“Some people might think he mis-kicked it but he didn’t. He spotted an opening and took it.”