Sheffield Wednesday face Huddersfield Town in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final tonight.
Brighton midfielder Steve Sidwell in action against Sheffield Wednesday counterpart Kieran Lee
Steve Sidwell has described the atmosphere he experienced at Hillsborough as one of the best he’s ever played in.
The Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder was on the losing side in last season’s play-off semi-finals, with Sheffield Wednesday taking a 2-0 lead on their own turf.
A full house of over 34,000 fans were present that night, and a similar turnout is expected when Huddersfield visit the Owls on Wednesday.
As far as Sidwell is concerned, the atmosphere could be a lot for the Terriers’ players to overcome.
“Last year we went to Hillsborough in the first leg and the atmosphere there was probably one of the best that I’ve ever played in throughout my career,” the 34-year-old told Talksport.
Sheffield Wednesday fans against Brighton
“It think that sort of really urged them on and it’s going to be exactly the same tonight. Huddersfield will be at the top of their game individually and collectively, but they will have to have a lot of skill, a lot of mental strength and toughness about them to overcome Sheffield Wednesday.
“Huddersfield are underdogs, everyone’s going to be expecting Sheffield Wednesday to win the game but it’s going to be a close one – the same as last night [Reading 1-0 Fulham].”
Wednesday and Huddersfield are level at 0-0 going into the second leg, with Reading awaiting the winner at Wembley later this month.
And whoever emerges victorious on that occasion will link up with Sidwell’s Brighton and Newcastle United in next season’s Premier League.
Brighton midfielder Steve Sidwell with teammate Glenn Murray
Wednesday and Huddersfield’s preparations have not been helped by a report in separate national newspapers this week, which claim the futures of respective bosses Carlos Carvalhal and David Wagner are under threat.
Former Premier League bosses Alan Pardew (Wednesday) and Steve McClaren (Huddersfield) have been mentioned as a possible replacements for the pair.
Will Hillsborough’s atmosphere see Wednesday through?
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