Sheffield Wednesday's failure offers Hull City timely reminder as Acun Ilicali sets out grand plan

Sheffield Wednesday's demise in the second leg of their League One play-off semi-final against Sunderland was further proof, if Hull City fans needed it, of what an achievement the Tigers secured twelve months ago.

This time last year, City were toasting their first league title in 55 years having secured promotion back to the Championship under Grant McCann's stewardship at the first time of asking. While City were coming up, old foes Wednesday were passing them on the way back to the third-tier of English football, often regarded as the graveyard.

City have since gone on to flourish in the Championship, attracting new ownership with fresh investment and genuine hope that a promotion push for the Premier League may not be too far away, and while a 19th-place finish may on paper at least, look anything but successful, given the obstacles the Tigers have had to overcome this season, it's hugely respectable.

Wednesday, who were beaten 1-0 at the Stadium of Light last Friday night looked to have sent their game to extra-time on Monday at Hillsborough when Lee Gregory powered in Marvin Johnson's cross late on to cancel out the Black Cats' lead from the first leg, only for Patrick Roberts to slot in the equaliser on the night and winner on aggregate - Roberts, was, incidentally on loan at Derby County last season and scored on the final day for the Rams to send Wednesday down.

The best part of 33,000 inside Hillsborough - barring 2,000 in the upper tier of the Leppings Lane stand - were stunned into absolute silence, and facing up to a second successive campaign in League One which is often the hardest. City were out within one season much to everybody's relief, but there are so many clubs that have struggled after failing