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Sheffield Wednesday logo
Championship
Aug 19, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Reading logo

1-1

Sougou (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Williams (49')

Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Reading

Sports Mole looks ahead to the Championship encounter at Hillsborough between hosting Sheffield Wednesday and Reading.

With a 100% winning record at home this season, Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to make it three victories from three outings when Reading visit Hillsborough on Wednesday night.

As for the visiting Royals, they will make the trip to Yorkshire still in search of their first 2015-16 Championship victory.


Sheff Weds

Besiktas JK Head Coach Carlos Carvalhal reacts during his team's UEFA Europa League group E qualifying football match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv on December 1, 2011© Getty Images

There was not too many home comforts for the Owls at Hillsborough last term.

Of their 23 outings in front of their own supporters, Wednesday tasted victory on just five occasions. During that same period, 11 matches ended in draws, with a further seven losses suffered.

It would seem that as far as new head coach Carlos Carvalhal is concerned, he is eager for that negative slump to cease over the coming months.

His side have opened up the campaign with home wins over Bristol City and Mansfield, and Carvalhal has called upon the supporters to help his players continue that sequence against the Royals.

"What I hope from tomorrow is that all the players feel the power of Hillsborough. That is my big expectation. When I talk about the power of Hillsborough with our fans, I mean the positive energy that they give to the team," he told the club's official website.

"We love to play at Hillsborough, we have had some very good performances here and the environment has been fantastic to help us. I am sure we will have that same environment again. The key tomorrow night is the power of Hillsborough, this is the main word and I am sure our supporters can make the difference."

The one blot on Wednesday's copybook came against Ipswich Town at the weekend, when the hosts ran out 2-1 winners at Portman Road, despite the fact that Ross Wallace had given the away side an early lead.

Recent form: WDLDWL
Recent form (all competitions): LLWWWL


Reading

Reading manager Steve Clarke during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Reading at The Amex Stadium on December 26, 2014© Getty Images

Steve Clarke will no doubt be the first to admit that last season was a difficult one for him at the Madejski Stadium.

However, the early indications are that it could be a similar campaign for the Scot this time around.

His side have collected just one point from their clashes against Birmingham City and Leeds United, while League One side Colchester United took the Royals to extra-time in the League Cup before a goal from Chris Gunter sealed a 1-0 win.

Nevertheless, in the days before this game, defender Anton Ferdinand was quick to look for the positives when he told the club's official website: "We defended well as a unit against Leeds, our shape was fantastic for all to see. It would be great to get a result at Hillsborough now.

"It's brilliant to play at home in front of your fans, but as a defender I really enjoy when we can go away from home and dig out a result."

It is hard to ignore the problems at the other end, though. Only Nick Blackman has found the net in the Championship this term, while last year just five clubs (three of which were relegated) scored fewer goals than the Berkshire outfit.

Recent form: LLLWLD
Recent form (all competitions): DLDLWD


Team News

Sunderland's Keiren Westwood warming up during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Sunderland at KC Stadium on November 02, 2013© Getty Images

The big news for the home side is that number one goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has been ruled out of this contest.

The Republic of Ireland international limped out of the clash with Ipswich and will not recover in time, which is likely to see Joe Wildsmith deputise between the posts.

Aside from that, it is expected that Carvalhal will stick with the same players that started the encounter in Suffolk last time out.

As for Reading, the game is likely to have come too soon for new signing Alex Fernandez, but Simon Cox is in contention to replace Orlando Sa up front.

Sheff Weds possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Hunt, Lees, Loovens, Helan; Hutchinson, Lopez; Wallace, McGugan, Matias; Joao

Reading possible starting lineup:
Bond; Gunter, Ferdinand, McShane, Obita; Norwood, Quinn, Williams, Robson-Kanu, Blackman; Cox


Head To Head

There has been 18 clashes between these two sides to date and there is nothing to split them, with eight wins apiece and two draws.

Reading's 2-0 win back in January ended a run of three straight defeats, during which time Wednesday had found the net on nine occasions.

From their eight previous trips to Hillsborough, Reading have recorded two victories.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Sheff Wednesday 2-0 Reading

With two home wins to their name already, Wednesday will be confident of recording another victory here. They are up against a side that is struggling to score goals, so assuming that will continue, it should be a routine triumph for the hosts.



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