Have Owls been handed lucky Wembley dressing room?

Sheffield Wednesday have been allocated the west dressing room at Wembley - but will it prove to be a lucky omen for the Owls?
England boss Roy Hodgson in the west dressing room, which will be used by Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.England boss Roy Hodgson in the west dressing room, which will be used by Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.
England boss Roy Hodgson in the west dressing room, which will be used by Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

Most players and managers who have made it to the Play-Off Finals will tell you that the smallest margins can make the biggest difference.

The preparation of the six clubs heading to Wembley this weekend will be meticulous as they look to end their season with success.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wednesday will go head to head with Hull City in Saturday's showpiece spectacular at Wembley with a place in the Premiership up for grabs for the victors.

One thing the teams can’t control, though, is the allocation of dressing rooms at the national stadium – but does it really matter which end your club is housed in for the big day?

Much was made of the ‘curse’ of the south dressing room at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium when Play-Off Finals were held there but, since coming back to Wembley Stadium in 2007, the winners have enjoyed a fairly even split between the east and west ends of the venue.

Although if you are looking for a slight advantage, 13 of the 22 Play-Off Final winners at the new Wembley since 2007 have been allocated the east changing room, with the other 12 in the west, which is also used by the England team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The first Play-Off winners at Wembley back in 2007 were Bristol Rovers, who occupied the east side of the national stadium when they overcame Shrewsbury Town 3-1.

The team in the east changing room for the Championship final of 2007 were also promotion winners, with Derby County beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0.

It wasn’t a clean sweep, however, as the 2007 League 1 Play-Off Final in between those two games saw Blackpool – housed in the west side of the stadium – beat Yeovil Town 2-1 to secure promotion.

All three of the 2014 winners were housed in the east end of the stadium, which is the first time that all three teams from the same end have triumphed in all three finals.

Last season Norwich City (east), Preston North End (west) and Southend United (west) triumphed.

Will the west dressing room prove lucky for the Owls on Saturday?