Preview: Exeter City vs. Sheffield Wednesday - prediction, team news, lineups

Exeter City look set to welcome Sheffield Wednesday to St James Park on Saturday despite Wednesday having to close down their Middlewood Road training ground following a COVID-19 scare at the club.

The Grecians will attempt to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup having booked their place in the last 64 by first beating Fylde 2-1, and then overcoming Gillingham 3-2 away from home.

For Wednesday, it will be their first outing in the FA Cup since being narrowly beaten by Manchester City in last season's competition.

Match preview

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In the 150 years since the FA Cup was established, Exeter have managed to reach the quarter-finals on two occasions. First of all in the 1930–31 season, and then again 50 years later in their 1980–81 campaign.

In fact, their 1980-81 appearance in the final eight was the last time City have gone beyond the third round, having been eliminated at this stage in their last nine attempts since beating Maidstone United 4-2, 40 years ago.

Still, manager Matt Taylor will see no reason why his side cannot cause an upset against a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side who sit only four points clear of the Championship's bottom side, Wycombe Wanderers.

There is no doubt that Taylor's men will pose an attacking threat to the Owls, having scored no fewer than 14 goals in their last five games.

Both Grimsby Town and Tranmere Rovers have been put to the sword by City's frontline recently, and they could well take advantage of a COVID-19-hit Wednesday side that will likely field a patched-up defensive unit.

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The Owls come into yet another fixture without a manager, having sacked Tony Pulis recently, but will feel the situation could be worse having bagged three wins in their last four games.

The club's Championship survival will be the priority this season, but there is a lot to be said for the confidence that a good old-fashioned cup run can install.

A win at St James Park will mean that Wednesday have gone five games unbeaten - the form of a team willing to fight for their place in the division.

That said, history is not on Wednesday's side. The Owls have not won away to Exeter City in their six previous attempts, losing five of those to boot.

Even though two tiers of English football separate these two sides, that has not always worked in Wednesday's favour.

Since beating Rochdale 2-1 in 2013-14, Sheffield Wednesday have either lost or been taken to a replay in their last three FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division.

Exeter City FA Cup form: WW Exeter City form (all competitions): WLLWLD

Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions): LLWDWW

Team News

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Exeter will be without Pierce Sweeney after he suffered a hamstring injury on Boxing day, while Rory McArdle looks set to miss out with a knee injury.

Josh Key will be in contention for a starting berth after recovering from COVID-19.

Wednesday's players and staff were tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday, and it is thought that a number of them have tested positive – though their details are remaining confidential at this point.

Wednesday will also be without pivotal midfielder Josh Windass after he suffered an injury in the recent 1-0 win over Derby County.

Exeter City possible starting lineup: Maxsted; Caprice, Parkes, Hartridge, Sparkes; Williams, Taylor, Collins, Randall; Jay, Bowman

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup: Westwood; Lees, Dunkley, Palmer; Odubajo, Pelupessy, Shaw, Bannan, Harris; Kachunga, Paterson

We say: Exeter City 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday (Wednesday win on penalties)

It remains to be seen what kind of team Wednesday will be able to put out, and with that in mind, we are predicting a close game with goals at both ends. Come 5pm on Saturday, it could well be that these two sides cannot be separated, meaning that it could go all the way to penalties.

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