Both sat on four points at the bottom end of the Championship table in the early stages of the new season, Luton Town and Sheffield Wednesday will square off at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
The hosts recorded their first victory of the campaign last time out following their relegation from the Premier League, while the visitors are winless in England's second tier since the opening day.
Match preview
© Imago
Luton Town return to action on Saturday aiming to make it back-to-back victories in the Championship, having bounced back last time out following a slow start to the campaign on their return to England's second tier.
After succumbing to relegation from the Premier League last time around, the Hatters set out to make an immediate return to the top flight under Rob Edwards, but they only managed to put a single point on the board from their first four attempts courtesy of a stalemate with Portsmouth after an opening-day 4-1 home loss to fellow relegated side Burnley.
Things did not improve before the September international break, as Edwards's side went on to suffer narrow defeats to Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers, either side of an EFL Cup exit at the hands of the latter, before returning with a trip to Millwall last weekend in search of a first league victory.
They succeeded in doing so at the fifth time of asking, leaving the Den with all three points having stood strong to maintain a 1-0 lead throughout the contest after Teden Mengi put them ahead in the 10th minute.
Having relieved a degree of pressure with that return to winning ways, Luton Town will now bid to further kickstart their Championship campaign with a second straight three-point haul and a first at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
© Imago
Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip south in search of a first league win in five outings, having endured a tough spell since the opening day.
Heading into their second straight Championship season and a first full term under Danny Rohl's tutelage with the aim of building on last year's heroic survival, Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed a dream start with a 4-0 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough, but they have only managed to add a single point to their tally in four further attempts since.
Defeats to Sunderland, Leeds United and Millwall prior to the international break followed, with the South Yorkshire outfit conceding nine goals and failing to score in the process, before returning to action at home to Queens Park Rangers last Saturday.
That contest looked set to end goalless, but Barry Bannan eventually opened the scoring for the Owls in the 93rd minute, only for the visitors to snatch a share of the spoils as Alfie Lloyd converted from a goalmouth scramble.
Having since returned to winning ways with a 1-0 triumph away at third-tier Blackpool to progress to the EFL Cup fourth round, Sheffield Wednesday will now bid to put last week's disappointment behind them and put three points on the board by taking a major scalp at Kenilworth Road.
- W
- L
- L
- L
- D
Team News
© Imago
Rob Edwards will field a similar Luton Town starting XI from last weekend's 1-0 victory over Millwall, although new arrival Victor Moses will compete to earn a debut in a right wing-back role after left-back Alfie Doughty turned out on that flank last time out, with Daiki Hashioka sidelined by an injury.
Another change could be made in attack, with key man Carlton Morris vying to return from the outset to join Elijah Adebayo, after the pair netted a combined tally of 21 Premier League goals last term.
They could have support from Tahith Chong, while Marvelous Nakamba and Liam Walsh will continue their partnership in the middle of their 3-4-1-2 setup.
Sheffield Wednesday are set to remain without defender Dominic Iorfa and midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah heading into Saturday's trip, as the pair continue to recover from injuries.
Danny Rohl rotated his side somewhat for their midweek EFL Cup tie, and Shea Charles and captain Barry Bannan should both return to the midfield, likely alongside Svante Ingelsson, while Michael Ihiekwe and Liam Palmer could reform a back three alongside Di'Shon Bernard.
Ike Ugbo and Jamal Lowe will compete to lead the line, while the Owls have plenty of options in support with Josh Windass, Anthony Musaba, Djeidi Gassama, Olaf Kobacki and Callum Paterson all laying claims for starting spots.
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Burke, McGuinness, Mengi; Doughty, Walsh, Nakamba, Bell; Chong; Morris, Adebayo
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Palmer, Iorfa, Ihiekwe; Valery, Charles, Bannan, Ingelsson, Johnson; Musaba, Ugbo
We say: Luton Town 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Luton Town are yet to truly kick into gear on their return to the Championship, but with confidence from a first victory last time out, they should have the quality to get over the line at home to a Sheffield Wednesday side lacking a degree of confidence of their own.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
