sheffield wednesday, whose last major honour had been the fa cup in 1935, were fresh from relegation to the second division when they were drawn against third division brentford in the second round, winning 2–1 in each of the two legs to put them into the third round. there they met fellow second division side swindon town, who held them to a goalless draw at hillsborough, before succumbing to a 1–0 defeat at the county ground in the replay a week later. wednesday required another replay in the fourth round, after they played out another draw at home to derby county, but beat them 2–1 at the baseball ground two weeks later.