Wednesday can move up to joint second in npower League One tonight if they see off the threat of struggling Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park.
The Owls have dropped points in disappointing fashion in their last two matches and boss Gary Megson will be eager for his side to secure all three vital points from the clash with the Iron.
Scunthorpe have a fight of their own, albeit at the wrong end of the table, and will be looking to secure crucial points to stave off the threat of relegation.
Vital Quotes:
Owls boss Gary Megson told the Yorkshire Post:
‘This is a big game and we know what a positive result can do – but it will be Scunthorpe’s biggest game of the season and they will be looking at us as a scalp,’ he said.
‘We have reports done on all teams but I don’t know why we bother because the team we play is never the one we saw before,’ he added.
‘The one guarantee is that they will be right up for it, That’s something we have to cope with. You can’t look around and say they’ve only had two wins and it’s a ‘nailed on result’ because it will be entirely different for us.’
Scunthorpe United Team News:
Scunthorpe manager Alan Knill could welcome striker Jordan Robertson back to his starting eleven after the former Sheffield United Academy product missed the weekend draw with Stevenage through a hip injury.
Robertson is a 23-year-old Sheffielder but he didn’t manage a senior game during his time with the Blades. Still, he’ll be keen to net against the Owls tonight.
Defender Christian Ribeiro could also return to action after missing the weekend match with a deadlog.
But Knill still has plenty of injury concerns in his Scunthorpe squad and will look to bolster his ranks accordingly before the close of the January transfer window.
Player to watch: Jordan Roberston
Should the 23-year-old striker be recalled to Scunthorpe’s starting eleven he’ll be keen to net against the Owls, being a Sheffielder and former United Academy product.
Wednesday Team News:
Megson told the gathered media at the Owls’ pre-match press conference that his plans had ‘gone out of the window’ on Monday morning, pointing towards an injury that the Owls boss is keeping under wraps.
Skipper and former Iron defender Rob Jones was already a big doubt for a return to Glanford Park after sustaining an ankle injury in the draw with Hartlepool at the weekend.
Megson will give the towering centre-back until the last minute to prove his fitness but if he’s not able to play Spanish centre-back Miguel Llera is expected to fill the gap in defence.
Injuries aside, Megson could opt to make changes to his side following the disappointing draw with Hartlepool on Saturday.
Wing wizard Jermaine Johnson will be one player keen to get a recall to the starting eleven following his performance, and goal, at the weekend.
Striker Ryan Lowe will also be pushing for a start after a number of chances went begging on Saturday.
Player to watch: Gary Madine
Madine got back in the goals on Saturday and he’ll be keen to continue that into tonight’s clash, with three crucial points at stake. He’s already scored against the Iron in the reverse fixture this season.
Match Facts & Stats
Form:
Scunthorpe: D-D-W-D-L
Wednesday: D-L-W-W-W
Head-to-Head:
Scunthorpe wins: 5
Wednesday wins: 6
Draws: 4
Last Time Out:
Wednesday 3-2 Scunthorpe
Hillsborough, 27/08/11
The Owls edged the reverse meeting at Hillsborough by the odd goal in three. Goals from Gary Madine and Ben Marshall put Megson’s men 2-0 up before Robert Grant pulled a goal back for the Iron. Madine hit his second to all-but seal the win before Mark Duffy kept Iron in it until the end with a goal five minutes from time.
Next Fixtures:
v Blackpool (A), FA Cup 4) – 28/01/12
