Wednesday will be out to try and make it three home wins on the spin when promotion-chasiong Queens Park Rangers visit Hillsborough in the Championship on Tuesday night.
The Owls have seen off Middlesbrough and Birmingham on home soil in their last two matches and go into the clash with Rangers in good form and with the chance to move further up the table and away from relegation danger.
Harry Redknapp’s side have picked up their form in recent matches with two wins from their last three games and know victory is crucial if they are to maintain hopes of achieving automatic promotion.
Vital Quotes:
Owls boss Stuart Gray told the official SWFC website:
“I know with the group of players that I`ve got that, yes we will respect them but we won`t be frightened of them.
“We`ll be in their faces, we`ll be closing them down and asking them questions of how good they are.
“We`ve had a fantastic performance against Birmingham on Saturday and I want a repeat of that against QPR and then for us to go to Doncaster and get a result as well.”
Wednesday Team News:
Owls boss Stuart Gray could welcome goalkeeper Chris Kirkland back into the starting eleven after the former Liverpool stopper missed the last three matches through a calf injury.
Damian Martinez, on-loan from Arsenal, has deputised for Kirkland but the latter has been Wednesday’s first-choice shot-stopper and should return if fully fit.
Defender Joe Mattock has returned to training but a place back in the starting eleven could come too soon, meaning Jeremy Helan would continue at left-back.
Gray has no fresh injury concerns following the victory over Birmingham at the weekend so the Owls boss could opt for the same outfield ten again.
Player to watch: Caolan Lavery
The youngster continued his impressive performances this season with a brace in the weekend win over the Blues and Owls fans will be excited to see the club’s youth product perform again on home soil.
QPR Team News:
Goalkeeper Rob Green will be absent for QPR after suffering a rib injury in his side’s 3-0 victory over Yeovil at the weekend. Green was replaced by Brian Murphy, who is expected to start in South Yorkshire.
Green’s absence is one of a number of injury problems for Redknapp’s side, with Jermaine Jenas and Armand Traore set to miss out through hamstring injuries.
The biggest blow could be that to on-loan attacker Ravel Morrison, who is a doubt with a groin injury but Rangers will give him until the last minute to prove his fitness.
The Londoners could also be without full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto with a knee injury while strikers Charlie Austin and Andrew Johnson remain in the treatment room with injuries.
Player to watch: Joey Barton
No doubt set to cause a stir amongst the home supporters, the midfielder is also Rangers’ midfield engine and will look to pull the strings to a vital victory for the promotion-chasers.
Match Facts & Stats
Form:
Wednesday: W-L-L-W-L
QPR: W-L-W-D-L
Head-toHead:
Wednesday wins: 27
QPR wins: 20
Draws: 14
Last Time Out:
QPR 2-1 Wednesday
Loftus Road, 3/8/13
Wednesday went ahead through a wonder striker from Atdhe Nuhiu as the Owls travelled to Loftus Road on the opening day of the season but Rangers hit back in the first half with goals from Nedum Onuoha and Andrew Johnson.
Next Fixtures:
v Doncaster (A) – 22/3/14
v Brighton (H) – 25/3/14
