As Middlesbrough continue their push for a spot in the Championship play-offs, they’ll likely be relieved that most of the attention on Easter Monday will be focused on the turmoil surrounding Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Thanks to Tommy Conway’s dramatic stoppage-time winner against Plymouth Argyle, Boro now sit just three points off the play-off spots with three crucial games remaining—the final one being against sixth-placed Coventry City.
In stark contrast, Sheffield Wednesday’s season is effectively over, though it’s ending anything but quietly. Their latest 2-0 defeat at Stoke City—where promising young goalkeeper Pierce Charles inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net—has only worsened their record since a mid-January fans’ forum. At that event, chairman Dejphon Chansiri publicly acknowledged a rift with manager Danny Rohl, one Rohl had already brought to light. The situation has fractured the fanbase, with many unsure how—or even whether—to protest during Monday’s match, and divided over who holds more responsibility for the club’s dismal second half of the season.
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Rohl added fuel to the fire after the Stoke defeat, criticizing his squad’s ability to play the style of football he wants. He warned that without serious improvements over the summer, the club would face a difficult battle to stay in the division next season. He also stressed the importance of signing mentally resilient players, stating that emotional scars are hard to overcome. Since the last international break, Rohl has turned to youth, giving minutes to players like Charles, Gabriel Otegbayo, and Charlie McNeill. He commended the squad’s willingness to adapt but admitted they’ve lacked consistency at the top level.
Wednesday have not won at Hillsborough since New Year’s Day and have failed to win in any of their last six games. Rohl lamented their missed opportunities, claiming that in seven of their last eight home games, he felt they deserved to win—though he acknowledged that sometimes it comes down to momentum. Reflecting on the season, he described it as a “What if?” campaign filled with stark contrasts—between home and away performances, and between defensive and attacking quality. Closing these gaps, he said, will require comprehensive development at every level of the club.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick is content to be caught up in drama rooted purely in football. After what looked like a costly 1-1 draw with struggling Plymouth, Conway’s late goal has reinvigorated Boro’s campaign. Carrick emphasized the importance of taking things one game at a time and keeping up the momentum, especially at such a critical stage of the season. “Things can change rapidly,” he noted.
On the injury front, Middlesbrough will be without Riley McGree, who picked up a knock in training following his recent return from plantar fasciitis. For Wednesday, Michael Ihiekwe is also unlikely to feature after sustaining a deep cut before Friday’s game, which made it too painful for him to wear his boots.
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