Sheffield Wednesday's three-year stay in the Championship ended in cruel fashion as a derby defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane confirmed their relegation. Excluding Bury's expulsion in 2019-20, this is the earliest a team has been relegated in EFL history, with snowdrops still out as Wednesday's fate was sealed.
A feisty contest saw red cards for both sides: Kalvin Phillips was sent off in the 49th minute for a dangerous tackle on Svante Ingelsson, while Gabriel Otegbayo received a second yellow card in the 90th minute. United took the lead after 75 seconds through Patrick Bamford, doubled it via Harrison Burrows in the 19th minute, and held on after Charlie McNeill pulled one back for Wednesday in the 53rd minute.
Wednesday's relegation was largely determined off the pitch. A 12-point deduction for going into administration in October was increased by a further six in December for multiple breaches of payment regulations. The club's former owner Dejphon Chansiri has been banned from owning an EFL club for three years, and a consortium led by poker player James Bord and casino owner Felix Roemer is under EFL scrutiny to become the new owners.
Manager Henrik Pedersen said: 'It's painful that a club like Sheffield Wednesday is relegated in February, but the boys we have in the squad and coaches have done everything we could. We weren't relegated today.' United manager Chris Wilder added: 'Wednesday didn't get relegated today. They lost all their players at the start of the season and are left with young kids in a division they really shouldn't be exposed in. My sympathy is with those players.'
Wednesday's defeat was their 10th in a row, equalling the Championship record set by Rotherham in 2016-17. On minus seven points, their primary aim for the remainder of the season is to reach zero points. For United, the win extended their impressive run – 35 points from their last 18 games – leaving them six points off the play-off places.
