Alan Irvine admits he is resigned to the fact that his side's Championship status will be decided on the final day.
Owls boss remains upbeat after derby draw
Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine admits he is resigned to the fact his side's Championship status will be decided on the final day of the season.
The Owls picked up another point in their fight for survival after the 125th Steel City derby ended 1-1 at Hillsborough on Sunday afternoon.
The point gained keeps Wednesday in the relegation zone one point adrift of Crystal Palace, whom they face at Hillsborough on the final day of the season.
Irvine, who replaced Brian Laws as manager in January, said: "It's still to a large extent in our own hands. If we can match or better Crystal Palace's result next week then it goes to the last game.
Clinical
"Unfortunately that was one of the things I predicted when I first got the job.
"But if we go about things in the right way, if we can be that bit more clinical up front and if we can just stop getting some awful goals against us in terms of luck, then we've got a chance."
Irvine did not see the clash between Richard Cresswell and Owls winger Jermaine Johnson that left the Blades striker with a nasty gash on his forehead.
Irvine added: "I saw Cressy after and asked him what happened and he said he got caught by an elbow and it was the first I had known anything about it."
Blades manager Kevin Blackwell, who felt his side "shaded the whole game", believes the Steel City derby warrants the biggest stage.
Blackwell said: "It's something this city deserves. The Sky cameraman was at the Manchester derby and he said this was far more passionate.
"The noise was louder and I think that says it all about the Steel City derby.
"The question people were asking me was would my players have the desire knowing there were so many loans and lads leaving the club at the end of the season.
Fortune
"Seven or eight of those lads are out of contract in two weeks' time and they showed the desire and the passion to want to play here.
"This is a terrific atmosphere. It's a great derby game and arguably should be played in the Premier League.
"It's important that both clubs get themselves sorted out and get back there as quickly as possible."
Blackwell insisted his side deserved some good fortune after Lee Williamson's free-kick curled inside the far post for a lucky equaliser.
He added: "You want to be able to walk round the city and buy a bag of chips without being slated, or somebody putting something in it.
"People might consider it a little bit fortuitous to see the goal going in, but it's a set-play that we work on and if people don't get touches and it's on target it will go in, and it did.
"But we also had three or four other really good chances."
