Wednesday return to home soil for the first of three matches on the spin at Hillsborough when Brentford visit in npower League One on Tuesday night.
Owls boss Gary Megson will be hoping his men can bring their poor home form to an end and bag crucial points at home to help avoid any kind of end-of-season relegation battle.
The Owls lost at Griffin Park in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and the Bees will prove tough opposition having won three of their last four matches.
Vital Quotes:
Owls boss Gary Megson told the official SWFC website:
‘I am expecting us to start at a really high tempo and to really throw ourselves into the game.
‘Everybody has got to work their socks off for the shirt they are playing in and everybody must compete for loose balls.
‘When we get the ball, I want us to pass it at a high tempo and create chances. We should threaten them from set pieces and and be comfortable in defending set pieces and that is what I am expecting.’
Wednesday Team News:
Wednesdayites can expect to see a host of new faces when Wednesday walk out at Hillsborough tomorrow.
Megson has brought new players in on loan since the last home match and Rob Jones, Danny Batth and Joey O’Brien are all expected to start.
Lee Nicholls is the other loan addition but he may have to settle for a place on the bench again, with Richard O’Donnell continuing in goal following recent good performances.
Megson was pleased with the performance against Dagenham & Redbridge at the weekend, despite having to settle for a point following a controversial penalty, and could stick with the same starting eleven.
There are no fresh injury or suspension concerns for the Owls.
Player to watch: Joey O’Brien
O’Brien made his debut for Wednesday at the weekend and will be keen to run out at Hillsborough once again for his second loan stint. A big success last time, Owls fans will be hoping for more of the same in the second spell.
Brentford Team News:
The Bees go into the game on the back of a league victory over Carlisle United last Friday but they could still make changes for the trip up the M1.
Karleigh Osborne could win his place back in the Brentford defence after missing the victory over the Cumbrians through illness.
Sam Saunders could also return to the Bees squad but may have to settle for a place on the bench as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
But Robbie Neilson is expected to miss out after suffering an ankle knock last time out, and Robbie Simpson won’t be ready for a return.
Charlie MacDonald and Richard Lee are long-term injury absentees.
Player to watch: Jeffrey Schlupp
The striker has signed for Brentford on-loan from Leicester City and made an immediate impact on his debut, scoring twice to help the Bees to a 2-1 win over Carlisle last time out.
Match Facts & Stats
Form:
Wednesday: D-L-L-L-W
Brentford: W-W-L-W-L
Head-To-Head:
Wednesday wins: 8
Brentford wins: 8
Draws: 11
Last Time Out:
Brentford 1-0 Wednesday
Griffin Park, 05/09/10
Charlie MacDonald’s strike just before half-time gave the Bees all three points in the reverse fixture last September.
Next Fixtures:
v Colchester United (H) – 02/04/11
