Sheffield Wednesday: 'Criminal' - Brutally honest Darren Moore verdict emerges

It’ll be “criminal” if Sheffield Wednesday fail to get promoted this season, according to ex-Owls midfielder Carlton Palmer.

The Owls were pre-season favourites to win the League One title, although their inconsistent campaign has left them fighting to secure a top six place heading into the final weeks.

Darren Moore’s side might have lost just five times in their last 31 third-tier outings, but only goal difference is currently keeping them inside the play-offs.

Wednesday find themselves on 73 points, level with sixth place Sunderland and seventh place Wycombe, although they crucially have a game in hand on the Chairboys.

But it’s generally been an underwhelming first year back at League One level for the Owls, who were fancied by many with their financial power and quality in their squad to be automatic promotion contenders and haven’t occupied a top two place since early September.

As a result, Wednesday’s only hope of sealing an instant return to the Championship is now via the lottery, which is shaping up to be one of the most competitive play off campaigns for several years.

And Palmer said failing to achieve promotion would be “criminal” from Moore’s point of view.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “If he misses out on promotion this season with the budget he’s got and the players he’s got, it’d be criminal. Sheffield Wednesday should get promoted.”

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Wednesday’s destiny might be in their own hands, but their run in is far from straightforward.

Not only are 60 per cent of their remaining games on their travels, which is a concern considering they’ve only won six away matches all season, but they still have to travel to second place MK Dons and Portsmouth on