This was a game that didn't disappoint and certainly lived up to the hype surrounding it, palace and Sheffield Wednesday put on a cracker. The reaction from the seasoned Shaun Derry epitomised exactly what this game meant to the players and fans as he was reduced to tears of joy as the referee blew the whistle on not only the game, but also Sheffield Wednesday's spell in the Championship. Indeed, the majority of the bumper crowd in Hillsborough left disappointed from the heartbreaking result, but also proud of the positivity their side showed at times through the pace of Jermaine Johnson and the inspiration from Darren Purse. But they came up short to a Palace team who only needed a point to secure their status as a Championship team for another season.Goals from target man Alan Lee and the prolific Darren Ambrose were enough to doom Sheffield Wednesday back to the 3rd tier of English football, a goal from Darren Purse came in the 87th minute but it proved too little to late for the Owls. So what now for both sides? Crystal Palace will hope that this can inject some life back into the club and some money so they can progress on in the Championship next season whiles hoping for a light in what has been a very dull affair off the pitch this year. The club will hope that the passion displayed in today's game can convince any potential buyers that they are a club worth investing in. The Owls on the other hand will need to re-group and assess over the summer which way they now want to go in order to progress. Alan Irvine is a highly experienced manager and has a proven track record despite this blip in his managerial career. With the likelihood of players such as Marcus Tudgay, Luke Varney and Jermaine Johnson being sought after from other clubs, Wednesday will need to ensure to keep the bulk of the team
intact and ready for a tough yet optimistic season in league 1. With the passion that Irvines side displayed today, it bodes well for next year when they will need to dig deep on occasions if they are to stand any chance of returning to the Championship.Thank you for taking the time to read this and it would be much appreciated if you left a comment on the article and also where you see the two clubs going in the future.
