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Sheffield Wednesday logo
FA Cup | Fourth Round
Jan 28, 2023 at 3pm UK
Hillsborough Stadium
Fleetwood Town

Sheff Weds
1 - 1
Fleetwood

Earl (71' og.)
Vaulks (34')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Omochere (52')
Rooney (27'), Omochere (53'), Lane (86'), Robertson (89')

Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Fleetwood Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's FA Cup clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Fleetwood Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

After squaring off in League One last weekend, Sheffield Wednesday and Fleetwood Town will again do battle at Hillsborough on Saturday with a place if the FA Cup round of 16 on the line.

The hosts came out on top in that contest to remain second in England's third tier and saw their scheduled trip to Cheltenham Town postponed on Tuesday, while their visitors were in action after their defeat in South Yorkshire and lost 2-0 to Portsmouth in midweek.


Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore before the match on January 7, 2023© Reuters

Sheffield Wednesday will come into the FA Cup fourth round in high spirits, having taken on Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United in the previous round after getting past Morecambe and Mansfield Town, with all of their ties thus far having come at Hillsborough.

Darren Moore's side took a surprise lead against the Magpies through Josh Windass, and he would make it 2-0 before the Owls stood strong to see out a memorable 2-1 victory and advance to the fourth round after Bruno Guimaraes pulled one back for their visitors 20 minutes from time.

They also head into the weekend in fine form on the league front, having recently climbed into the automatic promotion spots in England's third tier thanks to a 15-match unbeaten run and five straight victories, while their streak without a defeat in any competition dates back to a penalty shootout loss to Premier League outfit Southampton in the EFL Cup.

After leaping into the top two in League One with a 5-0 thrashing of Cambridge United after the turn of the year, Moore's side continued their impressive run with a 1-0 triumph away at Wycombe Wanderers, thanks to a Will Vaulks screamer from long range, before beating Saturday's opponents by the same scoreline last weekend, with Marvin Johnson's 17th-minute goal making the difference in South Yorkshire, after they also triumphed over the Cod Army away from home on Boxing Day in a 2-1 victory.

Now on the back of the postponement of their trip to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening, the Owls will return to action this weekend with the aim of making it seven straight victories in all competitions and advancing to the final 16 of the FA Cup for a third time in the last six seasons.

Fleetwood Town manager Scott Brown pictured before the match on August 23, 2022© Reuters

They meet a Fleetwood Town side who will aim to avenge last weekend's defeat and triumph over the team who have beaten them twice in League One since Christmas.

Scott Brown's side began their FA Cup journey in the first round with a home tie against Oxford City and won 3-1 before beating Ebbsfleet United 1-0 away from home to book a tough contest at home to second-tier Queens Park Rangers after the turn of the year.

Heading into that tie in a mixed run of league form, the Cod Army would prevail somewhat against the odds, despite going 1-0 down in the first half, as Aristote Nsiala quickly levelled the scores before Promise Omochere netted the winner 23 minutes from time at Highbury.

Brown's men have disappointingly been unable to build on that since, though, and now come into the weekend on the back of three straight league defeats, firstly falling short against Oxford United and the Owls before they were beaten 2-0 at home to Portsmouth on Tuesday, with Colby Bishop and Joe Pigott getting on the scoresheet.

Now hoping to continue their longest ever run in this competition, Fleetwood will be vying to get back to winning ways and topple Darren Moore's side at the third time of asking on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup form:


Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions):


Fleetwood Town FA Cup form:


Fleetwood Town form (all competitions):



Team News

Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass celebrates scoring their first goal with Michael Smith on January 7, 2023© Reuters

Sheffield Wednesday are unlikely to make many changes to the team that got the better of Fleetwood last weekend, with key midfielders Barry Bannan and George Byers likely remaining sidelined by injuries alongside defenders Ben Heneghan, Reece James and Michael Ihiekwe.

Given those absences, and the loss of centre-back Mark McGuinness back to parent club Cardiff City, Akin Famewo should again join Dominic Iorfa and Liam Palmer in a back three with Dennis Adeniran vying to keep his place alongside Will Vaulks in the engine room amid competition from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Tyreeq Bakinson.

Josh Windass will again play a key role in the front line, having scored 11 goals and provided five assists for the Owls in all competitions so far this season, while Michael Smith has found the net 10 times and should continue to lead the line with additional support from experienced striker Lee Gregory.

Fleetwood could again be without winger and top scorer Carlos Mendes Gomes, after the Luton Town loanee was absent from the squad for their defeats to the Owls and Portsmouth in the last week.

There is still competition for attacking spots, though, and Promise Omochere is likely to keep his place on one flank while Cian Hayes is vying to come back in from the outset after Phoenix Patterson was preferred in the front three on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Lewis Warrington and Josh Vela continue to play key roles in the engine room, while Aristote Nsiala will again be joined by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu at the heart of the back four.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Palmer, Iorfa, Famewo; Hunt, Dele-Bashiru, Vaulks, Johnson; Windass; Gregory, Smith

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Johnston, Nsiala, Sarpong-Wiredu, Earl; Warrington, Vela, Robertson; Omochere, Muskwe, Hayes


SM words green background

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Fleetwood Town

Sheffield Wednesday were not quite at their best in last week's triumph over the Cod Army, and with a round-of-16 place on the line on this occasion, we see their superior squad being slightly more dominant and again prevailing on home turf.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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Written by
Sam Varley

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Game History

How you voted: Sheff Weds vs Fleetwood

Sheffield Wednesday
76.9%
Draw
15.4%
Fleetwood Town
7.7%
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