Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor has claimed that his old side are too good to be relegated from the Championship this season, but has suggested the Owls could yet make a late push for the play-off places.

Garry Monk's side had endured a dismal run prior to football's suspension, winning just two of their last 14 league games, prompting them to drop from third to 15th in the Championship table.

The Owls are now eight points adrift of the play-off places and nine clear of the relegation zone with nine games of the season still to be played, although Mellor believes the club can only potentially reach one of those checkpoints this season.

Speaking on Alan Biggs' Talking Sport programme about whether or not Wednesday could still reach the play-offs this season, Mellor - who spent the 2010/11 on loan at Hillsborough from Preston - said: "There is still a chance. There are nine games to go and Sheffield Wednesday are eight points off those play-off positions.

"I got into the play-offs with Preston, with three games to go we were six points off those play-offs. It is still possible. Wednesday have to go on a very, very good run to do so."

Mellor did however admit that such an outcome looks unlikely given Wednesday's recent form, but insists they should not be worried about the prospect of dropping into the bottom three, as he continued: "The way they have played so far this season, it is difficult to see that.

"They are not going to get relegated. They are far too good for that but I think the fact they have not been competing for the play-off positions has to go down as a disappointing season."

The Verdict

I'm not sure I altogether agree with Mellor here.

There have been plenty of clubs who have previously been considered too good to down, only to find out that that is in fact not the case, meaning Wednesday can take nothing for granted here.

Indeed, when you consider the fact that they are only one point further away from the relegation zone than they are from the play-offs, it seems as though there is almost as strong a chance of a points swing to one as the other, and Wednesday recent form suggests they should be looking over their shoulder at the bottom three, rather than up towards the top-six.