The Owls meet Hull City for a place in the Premier League.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal
Former Sheffield Wednesday player and manager Trevor Francis has suggested that the Championship play-off final between the Owls and Hull City is too close to call, the Daily Mirror reports.
The Tigers finished the regular campaign nine points clear of Carlos Carvalhal’s men during the regular season, and occasionally threatened to challenge for automatic-promotion.
Hull manager Steve Bruce
Nevertheless, Wednesday’s victory over Brighton in the semi-final highlighted that the points gap almost becomes irrelevant during the play-offs. Chris Hughton’s side missed out on a top two spot on the final day of the campaign, but had their season ended by a team that only confirmed their top six place in their penultimate fixture.
And while Francis admitted that Hull may have the stronger squad, he claimed that there is not enough between the two sides to be able to make a confident prediction either way.
Sheffield Wednesday celebrate after the game
“Pound for pound, I think Hull have the edge, and it would not have surprised me if they had gone up automatically,” he told the Mirror.
“But although Wednesday should be second favourites at Wembley, I don’t think they are. It’s a genuine 50-50 call.”
Andrew Robertson celebrates scoring for Hull
With both games between the two sides ending in a draw this past season, it is also impossible to say that one has the other worked out.
And with play-off finals often adopting a cagey narrative with both teams looking to avoid making a costly mistake, it may require a moment of brilliance from someone to separate the teams and send one to the promised land.
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