The turnaround of form under Steve Bruce has been there for all to see.
This is emphasised by the league standings after back to back home wins in the Championship – Wednesday’s first two victories of the term by two-goal margins.
Determined not to give up on the campaign, a win in tonight’s Steel City derby would take Bruce’s side to four points outside the play-off places.
“Two weeks ago we were 12 points away, and you thought ‘was that the end of it after Rotherham’, two weeks later and we are talking about it again.
“That why I always say, it’s the beauty of the Championship and it’s what I enjoy. There is not a dominance.
“The beauty of the Championship is that there is always a surprise, anybody can beat anybody because there is not a gulf.
“It’s the consistency levels that you need to find when you’re in the Championship, there is not a gulf in class like in the Premier League.”
With regard to tonight’s Owls v Blades clash at Hillsborough, Bruce knows all about the significance of derbies and the challenges associated with big city rivalries.
He added: “If there’s one thing for sure about derby games, it’s that they are for supporters. It’s the shouting, it’s the bragging rights.
“It’s great if you can get a result for them. Big games, big derbies, it’s what we’re all in it for.”