I arrived there early as I caught the train from Ormskirk (for everyone, Ormskirk is a small town in Lancashire where I go to University.) I was meeting my dad and a mate who were travelling up from Wolverhampton. I wasn't really even thinking about the game when I got the train to Liverpool, nor on the train to Manchester, which was my next destination on route to Sheffield. It was when I reached Manchester Piccadilly and had to wait for an hour for the train to Sheffield when I started to fully wake up and think about the game ahead. Seeing Manchester City fans laughing and joking about their title triumph didn't help. Can you believe only last month we still had a chance to beat them to the title!
The Ade Akinbiyi vision was playing through my mind and at no point did I visualise anything happening at Hillsborough, other than a Wolves win. It was a strange feeling I had. I wasn't nervous, but I wasn't optimistic. At this point I felt nothing. I just had visions flying through my head.
I arrived in Sheffield at about 12:30 and got a taxi to the ground. I got there and started to pace around, something I only normally do when I am in deep thought. Visions of the coming events were still flying around my head, but I never once thought that Albion could still beat us to second place, despite holding the advantage. That was not optimism for Wolves' chances. Albion winning automatic promotion just seemed such a ridiculous thought!
I met up with my dad and our mate and we walked towards the turnstiles. The 'Barmy Army' chants were in full flow and I started to get into the atmosphere, chanting along.
The atmosphere in our end was electric. I have always been proud of Wolves away support because of the constant chanting and you rarely hear a bad word said about a player. I hate it when fans get on a player's back for no reason. What good does it do?
The match kicked-off and everyone knows what happened from there. It was the best of starts but the worst of finishes. I couldn't believe it! I have never seen us score that early! It was a great build-up involving Alex Rae and Nathan Blake and Cameron put it away! 1-0 up after a minute - the roof went off the stand! I couldn't believe it and I bet Albion fans couldn't either! A few quiet chants of 'We Are Going Up!' started, but a few others and me promptly told them to shut up! There was 89 minutes and some were chanting that! I didn't like it just in case it was tempting fate!
I was going crazy for the next fifteen minutes and then in strange unison, all the Sheffield Wednesday fans sitting in the other three stands rose to their feet with a massive roar. I was sincerely hoping that Sheffield United were losing, but chants of 'One Gary Megson' confirmed that Albion were 1-0 up.
I will hate Sheffield Wednesday fans forever for that. There they were with nothing to play for and they were cheering for that! I don't believe for one second they were happy because Gary Megson was an ex-player doing well! It was really sad.
I remember when Bradford were automatically promoted at Molineux a few seasons ago. I didn't see any Wolves fan cheering for Ipswich to go up instead of Bradford that day, because ex-player Mark Venus played for Ipswich! At the end of that game, a lot of Wolves fans clapped Bradford for their achievement and shook hands with Bradford fans. I hoped Sheffield Wednesday fans would be as sporting in not mocking us, but the team that finished in 21st place had to for some bizarre reason!
As soon as news of Darren Moore's goal filtered through, It suddenly hit me that Albion could be going up! It only hit me at that moment and I was gutted! I tried to carry on cheering but couldn't! A lot of other Wolves fans were the same. We were all gutted and I think the realisation of the play-offs hit the players at that moment as well. We fell apart.
We couldn't put any passes together and even Alex Rae had trouble controlling the midfield like he normally can. Newton was very poor and Kennedy should have come off after 15 minutes because it was obvious he wasn't fit. Gunnar Halle was very poor and put us under pressure with some disgraceful back passes. Blake and Sturridge had no service and Lescott was making me nervous when he had the ball! The only players who seemed comfortable on that pitch were Michael Oakes and Ludo Pollet.
I know Paul Butler is the captain but it will be a shame if Ludo loses his place. He is a much more reliable player in my eyes. Also, Michael Oakes gets too much abuse, which really annoys me. During this poor lack of form from the team he has kept us in many games with great saves! He is very under-rated and I was glad for him when he saved the penalty even though it was a poor spot-kick.
Once Sheffield Wednesday took the lead, we knew we weren't going up despite grabbing an equaliser after a nice header from Lescott, which looped over Kevin Fatman - sorry I meant Pressman. Or was I right the first time?
The atmosphere, along with the game, became a joke as loads of rumours were flying around by then. I heard that Crystal Palace had missed a penalty, pulled one back and had two cleared off the line within the space of two minutes! The only thing I believed was Albion going 2-0 up as Wednesday fans rose to their feet again!
Knowing that we weren't going up before the final whistle meant that I wasn't going to be the crybaby that the TV Cameras wanted. If a last minute goal had denied us promotion then I probably would have drowned the whole stand, but by then the realisation had hit me.
The drive home was the worst part; especially as nearing home we had to pass through West Brom territory. That was horrible. Albion fans cheering in pubs and beeping their car horns! Aaaaaah!!!!
I didn't know there were so many Albion fans! I only ever see them the day after they have beaten us. Other than that I hardly ever see an Albion shirt - unless I'm shopping at Tesco's of course. Where have they all been hiding?
I was glad to be going back to Lancashire because I could then get away from all the Albion fans I know. They are all part-time supporters, meaning they don't go to the games, so abuse from them would have killed me! I would congratulate an Albion season-ticket holder on their promotion but not a part-time fan who looks for the results on teletext!
For the next two days I didn't buy a paper or watch Sky Sports because I didn't want to see or read stories on their promotion!
We are all gutted deep down but I am now ignoring it and looking towards the play-offs. Hopefully the players are doing the same. My mate, a Bolton fan, says 'Cardiff is the best way to go up!' He better be right!
Have a safe journey for all those travelling to Norwich. I unfortunately can't go to the game but will have to settle with watching it at the Molineux beamback. C'mon Wolves!
steve_hermon@wolves-mad.co.uk