Henrik Pedersen says Sheffield Wednesday's fans have been putting in "Premier League performances" since a remarkable opening-day show of defiance at Leicester City. Now they need to see a Championship win.

Even on the opening weekend, which the Owls went into with their players unpaid for four of the previous five pay days, few could have imagined how bad 2025-26 would be.

With six games left they have minus six points and have been in administration since October.

Asked how he would have responded had he known what was coming, Pedersen joked: "I would run away! No, no, not at all.

FANFARE: Sheffield Wednesday fans at Leicester City in August (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

placeholder image — FANFARE: Sheffield Wednesday fans at Leicester City in August (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

"Nobody could have imagined what would happen. But it has been a big chance to show who we want to be and how we want to stay together.

"It has been an amazing journey, how we have been growing as a club.”

The Owls' fanbase has been one of this season's few shining lights, and they laid down a marker when the vast majority boycotted the opening five minutes of the defeat at Leicester in an attempt to force Dejphon Chansiri to sell the club.

"On this day (the support) was another level, but I have to be honest, there has been a lot of 'another levels' this season.

FALSE DAWN: Nathaniel Chalobah (left) made a scoring start to his season (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

"It started on the first day, but there have been a lot of Premier League performances from our fans this season."

Asked how important they had been in keeping him and his players going, Pedersen said: "It's a part of it, but it's a much bigger picture.

"All the players have shown through the season when it was most difficult, that they stayed and they have fought every day for the club."

Nathaniel Chalobah was outstanding that day, scoring Wednesday's first goal of the season before being stretchered off after 32 minutes.

Friday's 2-0 defeat at Stoke City was the midfielder’s second-longest appearance since, and another reminder of the ability he has if only his body would play ball.

"It was an amazing 30 minutes," Pedersen said of his performance in the 2-1 defeat at Leicester. "That's why we need a top pre-season so we can play with this intensity we want."

Even after Friday's 2-2 draw with Preston North End, the Foxes are in the relegation zone.

The Owls have three chances to avoid being the first English league team to go a whole campaign without a home win. All are against bottom-seven teams, but Leicester are the lowest.