Owls claim safety with final day thrashing

The Owls secured Championship football for next season in spectacular fashion as they over came yet another early goal to eventually beat Norwich City 4-1. Darren Huckerby's ninth minute opener for the Canaries had silenced the 36,208 crowd, the biggest in the division this season and at Hillsborough in seven years, and the nerves were clearly showing as Norwich threatened to extend their lead and ensure Wednesday would be looking at results elsewhere to claim safety this season.

Wednesday's magnificent win at the Walkers Stadium last weekend ensured that the Owls would be safe no matter what if they claimed all three points here. Brian Laws' side could still afford to lose and stay up if Leicester or Southampton dropped points too.

Huckerby's clinical strike into the roof of the net, set up by Dion Dublin, making this his final game of his 747 game long career, had left fans checking the early scorelines elsewhere in the country but at no stage during the afternoon did Wednesday slip back into the bottom three.

Nerves were settled mid way through the half as Referee Mark Clattenburg awarded Wednesday a penalty after Jason Shackell had brought down Deon Burton as both players chased a through ball into the Canaries' box. Surprisingly to many Mr Clattenburg decided to keep his cards in his pocket despite a strong argument from Wednesday that Shackell was the only man between Burton and the goalkeeper.

After missing a vital spot-kick at Leicester last weekend in an identical situation Burton showed great bravery to step up and cooly slot the ball home for 1-1.

That was how the scores remained through the half but Wednesday continued to be opened up at the back. Jermaine Johnson, asked to revert to an unfamiliar right-back role, in particular was having a difficult afternoon.

Wednesday edged ahead eight minutes into the second half to continue their rule as king of comebacks when two loanee players combined to turn the game in Wednesday's favour. Bartosz Slusarski's crossed low from the left and Israeli international Ben Sahar slid in at the back post in front of the Kop to send the home crowd wild.

The party could effectively begin in the 76th minute when Tommy Spurr picked out Burton with an accurate deep left wing cross and the Jamaican international flicked a header in past Canaries keeper David Marshall. It took Burton's season tally to nine goals in all competitions and surpassed the injured Marcus Tudgay's eight as Wednesday's top scorer for the season.

The icing on the cake came in the form of a late Leon Clarke goal, his second in as many games, as he showed strength and determination to hold off two Norwich defenders before poking the ball past Marshall for Wednesday's fourth and final goal of the afternoon.

Clarke has struggling to win over the hearts and minds of Wednesday fans since joining from Wolves some 16 months ago, and indeed spent most of this season on loan at League One Southend United, but it wasn't hard to see that this goal meant the world to him. At just 23 years of age he could yet surprise a few people in his Hillsborough career.

Elsewhere in the country Southampton, who started the day in the bottom three, stunned the Blades, who had faint hopes of a play-off spot, with a 3-2 win in a thriller at the St.Marys Stadium. Leicester City could only draw at Stoke, who claimed second place and automatic promotion, which condemned them to third tier football for the first time in their history.

Coventry City's heavy home defeat to Charlton and Watford's draw at Blackpool meant the Owls actually ended up in 16th place in the table. Not bad considering they occupied those dizzy heights of the league ladder for just three weeks of the nine month campaign.

The full time whistle brought jubilation from the Owls supporters and after a lap of honour from the players there was an emotional send off for club captain Lee Bullen. The veteran Scot missed the final game of the season through injury and his contract will not be renewed this summer after four years at the club. He played a vital role in Wednesday's resurgence from League One football in 2004/05, captaining the side to that famous win over Hartlepool in Cardiff, to helping them survive returning there next season. Bully was a dedicated servant to the club, making 146 appearances and scoring nine times, and will be fondly remembered by the Hillsborough faithful.

Laws and his players will take a much needed break over the summer and injuries will need time to heal ready. But the real focusing point will be whether or not the club can oversee a successful takeover to help provide funds for next season.

Laws end of season comments: "We're going to learn a lot from this year. We've had to put up with a lot, on the field and off it, you name it, it's been thrown at us and we've had hurdle after hurdle to climb and we've got over every one." "We've come out the other end. We've got a good squad of players here, if everybody's fit, and if we can add one or two to bolster that I believe we will have a much, much better year next year." "I'm not patting myself on the back; if Mourinho had been here, I don't think he could have done any better." "Everybody stayed calm. We could have thrown in the towel weeks ago, but we didn't. The supporters have been magnificent. They have had a lot of terrible years; we didn't want to give them another one." "This could be the kick start we need, of we can be resolute again all year." "I'm mentally shattered. I can't wait to get on a plane and go on holiday for a break. It's been a frustrating year. Mentally, and physically, it's been the same for the players." "We've got the foundation to work from. W've got youth in the team, and we know we can get goals when everybody is fit." "That's for the powers that be (a takeover). We'll analyse what we've done. There are mistakes that have been made. We must rectify them. It's all about finance, in the end. That will decide how we go about things next season."

Lee Bullen's final say: "I won't hide the fact that there were tears in the eyes but what a way to go in front of those magnificent fans." "But it's all about the team for me and the lads were quite magnificent after a shaky start, they showed great character and nerve to get back in the game. I tell you what, I'm tipping that mob for the play-offs next season." "I'll be leaving here with four years of fantastic memories. The fans have proved today the potential of this football club. They've been fantastic to me and I want to thank them for that. I would say to them now, get behind the lads next season, don't look back, look forward and help the team to the success it deserves."