Sheffield Wednesday’s sensational run of results since Steve Bruce took charge has seen the Hillsborough club dreaming of a play-off spot that looked impossible at the turn of the year.
Unbeaten in 12 Championship games, the Owls have come from nowhere to become the team no one wants to face, as they continue their march towards the top six.
Bruce told the Sheffield Wednesday official website he has urged the players to “enjoy the roller-coaster” and challenged them to “grasp” the unexpected play-off opportunity.
He said: “I’ve said to the players, we’ll dust ourselves down now, digest what’s ahead of us and see where we can go.
“We have got some big games here to look forward to and let’s hope we can come out on top.
“Let’s enjoy the roller-coaster and grasp it if we possibly can.
“With eight games to go, we’re going to need to win six of them probably, can we do it? We’ll try.”
The Owls were 17th in the Championship when Bruce took over, and it is testament to the job he has done that they currently sit 10th — only two points off the final play-off position.
But it will not be easy for Wednesday, with the Championship promotion race being the most open and exciting tussle for years, and Bruce’s men must to go to third placed Leeds and leaders Norwich on consecutive weekends in April.
The manager gave credit to his players for their attitude and working “tirelessly” since he arrived, claiming that both they, and the backroom staff have all “bought into what we are trying to do”
Bruce said: “Fair play to the players who have bought into what we are trying to do and also my staff, the ones I’ve inherited and the ones I’ve brought with me.
“They’ve worked tirelessly to turn the situation around and we’ve now given ourselves a chance and if you ask most sensible people a couple of months ago, they would say we’re not capable.”
With confidence being sky-high at the club — both on and off the pitch — and the run they have put together, you would not bet against Wednesday fulfilling their play-off dream.
But with the automatic promotion race currently a three-way shoot-out, those two games at Leeds and Norwich are likely to prove the stumbling block, with the pair certain to still have everything to play for.
But it does beg the question: Just where might they be if Bruce had taken the role immediately after it was offered to him, without delaying it until February?
Of course, health comes first, but it could still be a question of what could have been.
What are your thoughts Wednesday fans? Will you make the play-offs? Do you wish Bruce had not delayed his start at the club? Let us know below…