Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups

Sheffield Wednesday welcome Derby County to Hillsborough on Saturday in a meeting between two sides with diminishing hopes of making the Championship playoffs.

The Owls ended a poor run of form with a win in midweek against Charlton Athletic, while Derby suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Queens Park Rangers.

Match preview

A last-minute goal from returning forward Steven Fletcher earned Wednesday their first league win since early January this week.

Garry Monk will have been mightily relieved to see his side get back to winning ways, with his side having picked up just three points from their last seven matches.

In the Scotland international absence the Owls have been poor in front of goal, with January signing Connor Wickham yet to come of the mark from his five appearances.

The win over Charlton was also Wednesday's first home victory since before Christmas and another could take Monk's side as high as ninth in the table.

Derby have now gone four league matches without a win, following a run of good form for Phillip Cocu's side since Christmas.

An inability to keep clean sheets has been their downfall in recent weeks, with their last coming against Stoke City at the end of January.

The form of Wayne Rooney has also worsened, with the former England captain managing one goal in his last five games.

At this stage, the Rams are eight points clear of the relegation zone and further 11 adrift of the playoffs.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form: DDLLDW

Derby Championship form: WWLDDL Derby form (all competitions): WWLDDL

Team News

Sheffield Wednesday have no injuries concerns at this moment, with both Fletcher and Massimo Luongo vying for starts once again.

The only concerns currently are Kadeem Harris and Adam Reach, both of whom are one yellow card away from a suspension.

Derby are still without Krystian Bielik who is recovering from the cruciate ligament rupture he sustained in early January.

The former Arsenal man is not expected to return to full fitness until the summer.

Otherwise, left-back Scott Malone is one yellow card from a suspension.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup: Dawson; Palmer, Lees, Borner, Fox; Murphy, Lee, Bannan, Harris; Forestieri, Fletcher

Derby possible starting lineup: Hamer; Wisdom, Davies, Clarke, Lowe; Bird, Shinnie; Waghorn, Rooney, Lawrence; Marriott

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Derby County

Both sides have been in up and down form of late and that makes this a tough match to predict. As a result a draw appears most likely, a result that will suit neither club in the pursuit of the playoffs.