Six crowds above 30,000: Hillsborough’s remarkable run

Wimbledon left Hillsborough on the wrong end of five goals. The attendance announcement supplied another figure worth remembering: 30,477, taking Wednesday to six consecutive home crowds above 30,000.

The sequence stretches back to the West Brom match at the end of last season. It continued against Bradford, Bromley, Wigan and Stockport before the Wimbledon game brought Wednesday level with a run last achieved in 1991.

West Brom drew 33,750 and Bradford 33,188. The totals against Bromley, Wigan and Stockport were 30,006, 30,725 and 32,390 respectively. Across all six fixtures, the average was 31,756.

The results have varied. Supporters in that sequence have seen a defeat to Bradford, a seven-goal Wednesday performance against Bromley and goalless draws against Wigan and Stockport. The turnouts have held above the same threshold through very different afternoons.

Cambridge visit on Tuesday, when Wednesday have the chance to extend the sequence to seven. Reaching 30,000 again would produce a run not seen at Hillsborough since the early 1950s.

For the team, that support creates an opportunity to make home matches count. A packed ground cannot clear a corner or finish a chance, but it gives the players an audience ready to respond. After two defeats on the road, they have good reason to give it something to cheer.