Sheffield derby: I would take derby defeat if it means Owls can stay up

Derby matches are massive no matter where you are.

Every place I have been, every fan who has ever talked to me about a derby match, always says it is the biggest and the most passionate derby.

I won't argue with that because I know it is to those people who come along.

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I was a Rangers fan as a lad and I grew up with what may well be one of the most hostile, intimidating derbies in the world.

Once you have had Rangers and Celtic games, all other derbies you can cope with!

There are a lot of derbies on this weekend.

It doesn't matter if you are a Preston fan, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, an Everton fan, a Rangers fan or a Manchester United fan.

Derby matches are big, big games.

Obviously, on this occasion, we are also playing for three extremely important points in the Championship.

The points are massive, no question about it.

I can't play that down.

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We need three points and, in my opinion, the points are much, much bigger than the bragging rights.

I don't have lots of contact with the fans – because I don't go out in town or anything like that – but I have been at one or two functions in recent weeks and everyone has been talking about this game.

I know what it means to fans.

But you can't let the hype affect what you do in terms of your work.

We have prepared like we do for any game but we are aware what derby matches mean no matter where you are.

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I saw Kevin Blackwell at a League Managers Association event about a month ago and, when I first got the job here, Sam Ellis (Blackwell's assistant) was good enough to leave a message saying 'welcome to Sheffield' and 'I am really pleased for you'.

There is absolutely no animosity between the two camps.

We will do the best we can to beat each other and, after the game, we will have a drink together.

Then we probably won't see each other again for quite a while. I would take a defeat if it means we stay up.

Some Sheffield Wednesday fans would say they would take winning and going down but I don't agree with that.

The most important thing is that we are a Championship club next season and we have an opportunity to play this football game again.