MX23RW : Friday, April 26 15:43:12| >> :120:18521:18521:

Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Rotherham United

Sports Mole previews Saturday's South Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray will be hoping that the added spice of a South Yorkshire derby is enough to inspire his side to end their recent poor run of form in the Championship.

The Owls go into Saturday's clash with local rivals Rotherham United on the back of an eight-match winless streak in the league that has seen them slump down into the bottom half.

They are now without a win since September, and ended a run of three straight draws by losing 2-0 at home to in-form Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Perhaps the most worrying thing for Gray will be the lack of goals from his side. They have found the back of the net just once in their last five outings and only four times in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Indeed, with just 12 goals from their 16 league matches this season, only bottom-of-the-table Blackpool have scored fewer than Wednesday in the current campaign.

However, they have also only conceded 14 goals so far, a tally that only high-flying Middlesbrough can better in the second tier.

Strangely, it has been at home where the Owls have had the most trouble. Only Blackpool have picked up fewer points in front of their own fans than Wednesday's seven this season, while their tally of three home goals is the worst in the division.

They have not scored in any of their last three matches at Hillsborough, while their winless streak at home now stretches to four games.

Summer signing Stevie May could come in as Gray attempts to rectify that, but Royston Drenthe will play no part having been sent off in midweek. Joe Mattock is also out due to an ankle injury, with the full-back expected to miss six weeks.

Rotherham, meanwhile, will have one eye cast firmly over their shoulders as they get drawn ever closer to the relegation zone.

They are now just two points clear of the bottom three following a run of four games without a win, including consecutive 3-0 defeats against Middlesbrough and Reading respectively.

Their last win actually came in a Yorkshire derby as they edged to a 2-1 victory over Leeds United last month, but since then they have amassed just two points from a possible 12.

Away from home they are now without a win in seven matches in all competitions and have won just once on their travels all season.

Alex Revell and Kirk Broadfoot are both doubts for the visitors, while Jordan Bowery remains suspended having picked up a red card last weekend.

Recent form

Sheff Weds: LDDDLD

Rotherham: LLDDWD

Possible starting lineups

Sheff Weds: Westwood; Palmer, Loovens, Lees, Helan; Maguire, Lee, Semedo, Maghoma; May, Nuhiu

Rotherham: Collin; Richardson, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz; Taylor, Frecklington, Green, Pringle; Revell, Derbyshire

Sports Mole says: 0-0


ID:186903: cacheID:186903:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5334:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Yoni Buyens of Charlton celebrates scoring the first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Charlton Athletic and Watford at The Valley on September 13, 2014
Read Next:
Team News: Three changes for Charlton, Wednesday
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leicester CityLeicester443041086394794
2Leeds UnitedLeeds44279880374390
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton442591085612484
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City441912136556969
8Coventry CityCoventry4317121468551363
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Millwall441411194355-1253
17Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
18Queens Park RangersQPR441311204157-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!