Sheffield Wednesday are set to welcome promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers to Hillsborough on Tuesday in their 20th Championship match of 2024-25.
The home team are ninth with 26 points and drew 1-1 with Preston North End on Saturday, while their opponents have played 18 games and are in sixth place with 31 points following their 1-0 victory against Hull City on December 7.
Match preview
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Sheffield Wednesday were arguably fortunate to have earned a point last time out at home considering Preston produced six big chances, and other than the penalty they missed in 53rd minute, the hosts fashioned just one big chance in the game.
Manager Danny Rohl was scathing of his players in the aftermath of the draw, telling reporters: "We deserved nothing today. For me Preston was the better team, they deserved to win and we were very lucky. It's not what I want to see from my team and I think you've asked me before what the difference is between home and away - I think it's our mindset."
The Owls have won just three Championship matches at Hillsborough this term and have lost two, drawn three and won just one of their six most recent games at home.
To their credit, Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their past four league outings, achieving victory twice and netting six goals in that period.
Rohl's side have scored 23 times and conceded on 28 occasions in the second tier, and these are the division's 10th best offensive and joint fifth-worst defensive records.
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As for Blackburn, they created no big chances against Hull and only won thanks to Sean McLoughlin's 20th-minute own goal, but they did manage to limit the Tigers to just two big chances.
Boss John Eustace admitted that Hull posed a significant challenge but chose to focus on the positive aspects of his team's performance, saying: "A lot of their attacks were outside the box. We knew we were facing a talented team with excellent technicians. I am very pleased and proud of the boys to keep another clean sheet."
The Riversiders have kept their opponents at bay for three consecutive games, as many as times as they had in their prior eight outings.
Eustace's side are in good form, with the club having won their last four fixtures, including their three most recent games by a scoreline of 1-0.
The visitors have also won their past three away matches, and though they were beaten in the prior three, those are the club's only defeats on the road in their last 12.
Team News
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The hosts will have to contend with the absences of defender Akin Famewo and forward Olaf Kobacki until the middle of this month.
Sheffield Wednesday could deploy centre-backs Yan Valery, Di'Shon Bernard and Max Lowe in front of goalkeeper James Beadle.
In attack, Rohl is certain to start striker Michael Smith, and he may be supported by Josh Windass and Ike Ugbo.
Meanwhile, Blackburn will not be able to select several players, including forwards Andreas Weimann, Arnor Sigurdsson and Zak Gilsenan.
Given these injuries, Tyrhys Dolan, Todd Cantwell and Ryan Hedges can be expected to play behind striker Yuki Ohashi.
Goalkeeper Balazs Toth is also unavailable, as are defenders Harry Pickering, Hayden Carter and Scott Wharton.
Eustace could start Aynsley Pears between the posts, and he may be shielded by a defence consisting of Callum Brittain, Dominic Hyam, Danny Batth and Owen Beck.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Valery, Bernard, Lowe; Gassama, Charles, Palmer, Johnson; Windass, Ugbo; Smith
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Beck; Tronstad, Baker; Dolan, Cantwell, Hedges; Ohashi
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn have proven to be resilient defensively in recent weeks, and it would not be surprising if they prevented their hosts from creating many opportunities in front of goal.
Additionally, Sheffield Wednesday's record at home is concerning, and they may struggle to get back into the game should they concede first.
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Lewis Nolan
