Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion: 'It's crazy to say that zero points is a goal, but it's really a goal'
ON THE day in February Sheffield Wednesday were relegated from the Championship at Bramall Lane, manager Henrik Pedersen talked of the importance of not ending the season on minus points. Winning at Hillsborough has been alongside it at the top of the to-do list.
In the final game of the campaign from hell, both are still waiting to be ticked off.
Pedersen is desperate to achieve them with victory over West Bromwich Albion in Saturday's 12.30pm kick-off, and not spoil the party.
More than that, he wants to start a new chapter on the day David Storch's proposed takeover is expected to be completed.
The ground is sold out, with fans encouraged to come in Hawaiian fancy dress, and not letting them down is the Owls' motivation.
"When you only won one game (all season), we all know what it means for the fans," says Pedersen, who hopes to have central defender Gabriel Otegbayo back from injury.
"If we can bring everything on the pitch and it can also end with a win, it could be amazing that we could celebrate this together with a full house in Hillsborough.
"It has been a big goal for us and that's why we will put it all on the pitch to see if we can reach this goal.
"It's crazy to say that zero points is a goal, but it's really a goal.
"And the second thing is to make a performance so the fans can be proud of what we have done on the pitch and can identify themselves with the performance. This is also what we want to do.
"We will be on the front foot.”
Docked 18 points for going into administration, plus the financial issues that put them there, the Owls are currently on minus three, and have not won at home since Easter Monday 2025. The need for a clean slate is obvious.
"Everyone is looking forward to the game and that it's done, so we can start afresh,” says Pedersen.
"First, they're looking forward to the atmosphere in the stadium.
"They all want to play because they know it's going to be an amazing day, a day people will remember in the future.
"It can be the game that is the last game for the story of the last 10 years but it's also going to be the first game for the new story we want to write."