Rob Edwards sends cryptic message to Sheffield Wednesday after victory
Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards admitted he was left feeling “sad” and somewhat unsettled after witnessing Sheffield Wednesday’s ongoing struggles firsthand, as his side battled to a narrow but deserved victory at an eerily quiet Hillsborough Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Championship fixture, which ended 1–0 in favour of Middlesbrough thanks to an early strike from Morgan Whittaker, should have been a routine evening for the visitors. On the pitch, Edwards’ side controlled large portions of the match and could easily have sealed the win before halftime. Off the pitch, however, the night carried a different tone — one of unease, emptiness, and visible disillusionment among Wednesday’s supporters.
Only around 7,000 fans turned up to the famous old ground, with a little over half of them making the trip from Teesside to support the visitors. The sparse attendance reflected the deepening crisis engulfing Sheffield Wednesday under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri, whose reign has been marred by financial instability, unpaid wages, and multiple EFL-imposed transfer embargoes. The result has been growing frustration among supporters, many of whom have chosen to stay away in protest.
For Edwards, a manager who has built his reputation on passion and connection with fans, the experience was unsettling. “Look, it’s sad,” he said post-match, his tone reflecting genuine sympathy rather than triumphalism. “It’s not a great situation for their football club. I don’t know all the details — it’s not my place to comment on that — but it did make for a very strange feeling tonight. The atmosphere was flat, almost hollow at times, and you could sense how much pain there is around this club right now.”
He continued: “In a weird way, that emptiness added more pressure on us. I actually felt more tension tonight than I did last Friday at home against Ipswich. It’s hard to explain, but when you’re in such a quiet environment, every mistake feels magnified. It felt like we had to get the job done — not just for our fans who travelled but out of respect for the situation.”
While his side ultimately held on for the three points, Edwards confessed that the experience was bittersweet. “Of course you don’t want to see a great football club in a state like this,” he added. “Sheffield Wednesday is one of the traditional giants of English football — massive fan base, incredible history, great stadium. You want to come here and play in front of 30,000 people roaring their team on, not in front of empty stands. Tonight was just very strange, and honestly, a little sad to witness.”
The evening was perhaps even more emotional for Henrik Pedersen, Wednesday’s head coach, who continues to navigate one of the most turbulent periods in the club’s modern history. Tasked with keeping the team competitive amid chaos behind the scenes, Pedersen has faced an almost impossible situation: guiding a squad affected by uncertainty, unrest, and low morale while the club’s financial issues dominate every headline.
Pedersen, who has earned respect for his composure and professionalism amid the turmoil, spoke candidly after the defeat. “We all know what Hillsborough can be like,” he said. “It can be electric. When this place is full, it’s one of the best atmospheres in English football. Of course it’s painful to see it like this — empty seats, tension in the air, fans staying away. But I understand. I respect every supporter who decided not to come tonight, because they are still with us in spirit. They care deeply about this club.”
The Danish coach went on to praise the loyalty of the fanbase despite their current absence. “I know that many supporters are watching from home or gathered in pubs, following every moment. They still love this club. That togetherness is what we have to hold onto. Everyone connected to Sheffield Wednesday — players, coaches, and supporters — has to stay united, because only together can we come through this. I have the biggest respect for all of them.”
For now, that sense of unity and endurance seems to be Wednesday’s most valuable commodity. The club’s off-field problems — ranging from financial mismanagement to regulatory sanctions — have stripped away much of the optimism that followed their promotion push not long ago. What remains is a fanbase weary but loyal, and a team doing its best to perform under mounting pressure.
As Edwards and his players celebrated their win, there was little of the usual jubilation. The Boro boss’s reflections captured the sombre tone of the night. “Football is about passion, about energy, about supporters making noise. When that’s gone, something vital is missing,” he said. “You could tell tonight that Sheffield Wednesday’s fans love their club — you could feel it, even from a distance. You just hope things improve for them soon.”
Hillsborough has long been one of English football’s most iconic venues, a ground synonymous with pride, history, and atmosphere. Yet on this night, its emptiness told a story louder than any chant — a story of disillusionment, frustration, and a desperate need for change. While Middlesbrough left with three points, the real narrative was about Sheffield Wednesday’s struggle for stability, unity, and hope amid one of their darkest periods in recent memory.