MX23RW : Thursday, October 31 23:32:08| >> :120:23958:23958:
[monks data]
Sheffield Wednesday logo
Championship | Gameweek 43
Apr 13, 2024 at 3pm UK
Hillsborough Stadium
Stoke logo

Sheff Weds
1 - 1
Stoke

Palmer (68')
Johnson (28')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Cundle (76')
Baker (33'), Thompson (60'), Rose (71'), Manhoef (77')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

A pivotal contest in the fight at the bottom end of the Championship table will take place at Hillsborough on Saturday, as Sheffield Wednesday welcome Stoke City.

With just four games of the final run-in remaining, the hosts are now only adrift of safety on goal difference, while trailing their visitors by just three points in the fight to avoid the drop.


Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl reacts on March 8, 2024© Reuters

Sheffield Wednesday head into their second outing at Hillsborough this week on Saturday with the aim of further strengthening their Championship survival bid and finally leaping out of the relegation zone in the run-in.

After bouncing back from a dismal start to the season and moving into a competitive position with a much-improved run between early December and early March under the tutelage of Danny Rohl, the Owls would lose ground once again last month, enduring a four-match winless run around the recent international break which only produced a single point.

Then sitting two points adrift of safety with six games left to play, the South Yorkshire outfit set out to end their tough patch and have given their survival hopes a huge boost in the two attempts since, firstly returning to winning ways away at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday as Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba netted second-half goals at Loftus Road.

Rohl's men most recently welcomed Norwich City to Hillsborough on Tuesday, and after falling 2-0 behind inside the opening 20 minutes, they staged an impressive second-half comeback to share the spoils with the sixth-placed side, as Michael Ihiekwe pulled one back in the 78th minute before Michael Smith headed in a leveller five minutes from time.

Having now regained confidence with those recent results and moved up to 22nd spot in the Championship, only trailing 21st-placed Huddersfield Town on goal difference, Sheffield Wednesday will look to make their recent improvement count on Saturday and put another win on the board to move out of the drop zone ahead of the final three games.

Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher on March 5, 2024© Reuters

Their visitors, meanwhile, travel in need of a result in their own survival bid, albeit with a slender lead over the bottom three to defend in the run-in.

In what has certainly been a difficult season across spells under the management of Alex Neil and current boss Steven Schumacher, Stoke City found themselves in a particularly concerning position at the bottom end of the division as a seven-match span between late January and late February left them in the bottom three on just 35 points from 34 matches.

The Potters were then able to reverse their fortunes and rebuild a vital cushion in the following weeks, going on to triumph in three of their next five outings alongside defeats in tough meetings with Leeds United and Norwich City, before coming from behind to take points from draws at home to fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town and fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

Aiming to solidify their position above the bottom three, Schumacher's side most recently visited Swansea City on Wednesday, but they were unable to extend an unbeaten streak any further, leaving empty-handed after succumbing to a 3-0 beating as Liam Cullen put the hosts ahead early on before Matt Grimes and Josh Key added second-half goals.

While Stoke City have done their survival hopes a great favour in recent weeks, they do now only lead Saturday's hosts in the drop zone by three points, and with four games left to play and a six-pointer coming up at the weekend, they will know their work is far from done and will bid to move all but out of sight with a crucial return to winning ways at Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:

Stoke City Championship form:


Team News

Sheffield Wednesday's Djeidi Gassama celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 27, 2024© Reuters

Sheffield Wednesday's cause has been helped in recent weeks by several players returning from injury layoffs, including Callum Paterson and Josh Windass, but they have been dealt fresh concerns with winger Ian Poveda and centre-back Di'Shon Bernard sidelined and striker Ike Ugbo having also missed their meeting with Norwich on Tuesday.

If he is unable to return in time to feature at the weekend, Michael Smith will continue to lead the line for the Owls, after drawing them level with his fourth Championship goal of the season in that match, while Windass should again join wingers Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba in a supporting trio with Poveda bound to miss out, despite fresh competition from Paterson.

Liam Palmer has been preferred over Will Vaulks at the base of the midfield in recent weeks and will hope to keep his place alongside captain Barry Bannan, while Bambo Diaby and Michael Ihiekwe will partner up at the heart of the back four in Bernard's continued absence.

Stoke City continue to contend with several injury concerns ahead of the weekend's trip to Hillsborough, with Lynden Gooch, Ben Pearson and Ryan Mmaee bound to miss out again.

Steven Schumacher may still make several changes to his starting XI after their midweek 3-0 loss to Swansea, though, with Ben Wilmot pushing to come back into the defence while Lewis Baker, Jordan Thompson and Luke Cundle will battle for places in the midfield after settling for substitute appearances in South Wales.

There is competition in attack, too, with Joon-Ho Bae set to continue in a central role, while Andre Vidigal, Niall Ennis and Million Manhoef will all fight to keep their places with Sead Haksabanovic and Tyrese Campbell vying to get the nod.


Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Diaby, Famewo; Palmer, Bannan; Musaba, Windass, Gassama; Smith

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Hoever, McNally, Rose, Wilmot; Baker, Laurent; Manhoef, Bae, Leris; Vidigal


SM words green background

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Stoke City

With four games left to guarantee their second-tier status for next season, both teams will be desperate for three points on Saturday, setting up a tight and intriguing encounter.

Both boasting similar levels of quality, and unable to afford what would be a damaging defeat, we see a low-scoring draw as the most likely outcome at Hillsborough.


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




ID:541158:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect14086:

Previews by email

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


Game History

How you voted: Sheff Weds vs Stoke

Sheffield Wednesday
42.9%
Draw
42.9%
Stoke City
14.3%
7
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna before the match on February 14, 2024
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Norwich City vs. Ipswich Town
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland129122391428
2Burnley126511751223
3Leeds UnitedLeeds126511981123
4Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd12732146822
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom12552137620
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn125431612419
7Watford126151619-319
8Norwich CityNorwich124622216618
9Middlesbrough125341412218
10Millwall124441512316
11Bristol City123721416-216
12Derby CountyDerby124351515015
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds124351318-515
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd123541515014
15Hull City123541416-214
16Preston North EndPreston123541317-414
17Swansea CitySwansea1234588013
18Coventry CityCoventry123361417-312
19Stoke CityStoke123361317-412
20Cardiff CityCardiff123361118-712
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth123361322-912
22Luton TownLuton123271420-611
23Queens Park RangersQPR121651119-89
24Portsmouth121561225-138


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!