Sheffield Wednesday have built up a comfortable nine-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone and could edge further towards safety with a win over Middlesbrough at Hillsborough this Saturday.

A remarkable turnaround in form under Stuart Gray has seen the Owls fly up the table over the past few months and they now sit 15th, just four points behind Boro with a game in hand.

Wednesday's form has stuttered a little in recent weeks, suffering three defeats in their last four matches, including elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Charlton Athletic on Monday.

However, their only two Championship defeats in their last 11 league outings have come against high flyers Wigan Athletic and Derby County.

Both of those losses came at Hillsborough, ending a three-match winning streak for Wednesday in front of their own fans, who have now gone two home games without seeing their side score a goal.

Gray is likely to bring Atdhe Nuhiu back into the side, but he will be without the injured Rafael Floro and Anthony Gardner, while Reda Johnson is also a major doubt.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, will be worrying less about the result and more about scoring a goal in this match having not found the net in any of their last six games.

The last player to score for Aitor Karanka's side was Emanuel Ledesma in the 16th minute of their 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic on January 18, making it 614 minutes without a goal.

On the plus side, their defensive record over that period is good, having only conceded once in their last five games, but four goalless draws in that time have ended any slim hopes they may have had of challenging for the playoffs.

Their away record leaves a lot to be desired as they have managed just three wins in their last 29 matches on the road stretching back into last season.

Karanka will be without the suspended Ben Gibson for the match, but Lee Tomlin could make his first start as the manager looks to give Danny Graham more support in an attempt to end the goal drought.

Recent form

Sheff Weds: WWLLWL

Middlesbrough: LDDDLD

Possible starting lineups

Sheff Weds: Kirkland; Palmer, Llera, Loovens, Mattock; Lee, Maguire, Gardner, Antonio, Maghoma; Nuhiu

Middlesbrough: Given; Varga, Omeruo, Woodgate, Friend; Whitehead, Chalobah; Butterfield, Tomlin, Adomah; Graham

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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