Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock has already emphasised the importance of picking up points at home this season, and what better place to start than at home to Stoke City this Tuesday night.
It’s an important match for Wednesday following on from the 0-0 draw with Southend United at the weekend – as they face the second of three matches in six busy days, with Hull City the final of the three live on Sky on friday night from the KC Stadium.
Vital Quotes:
Paul Sturrock said:
‘We kept a clean sheet and we looked very compact. I’ve been working on something weird and wonderful to get us into more attacking areas at home and hopefully they will work on Tuesday.’
Stoke’s Andy Griffin told the official SCFC site:
‘It will be another difficult game for us, but if we tackle it with the right attitude there’s no reason why we can’t pick up three points.’
Wednesday Team News:
Owls boss Paul Sturrock has no fresh injury worries ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with City.
Striker Marcus Tudgay is set to continue his return to full fitness by partnering Deon Burton in the Owls attack for the second consecutive match. Tusgay has only featured in one first team match and one reserve team match for the Owls since returning from injury but will be hoping to kick-start the Owls season.
Meanwhile, midfielder Steve Adams could also continue in the middle of the park alongside the improved Glenn Whelen. But Kenny Lunt and Chris Brunt will be pushing hard for recalls after sitting on the bench for the weekend trip to Roots Hall.
Yoann Folly, Richard Wood, Peter Gilbert, Steve Maclean, Drew Talbot and Barry Corr are all still sidelined through injury.
Player to watch: Marcus Tudgay
He may only just be back into first team action after his pre-season injury but Owls fans will be looking towards the Tudgay-Burton partnership for goals to get their first three-points of the season at Hillsborough – and the first goals in open play.
Stoke City Team News:
City boss Tony Pulis won’t risk new-signing Ricardo Fuller for the trip to Hillsborough. The Jamaican international has been struggling with a hamstring injury since his arrival from Southampton before the close of the transfer window.
Says Pulis: ‘Ricardo has a bit of a nick in the hamstring which he picked up while at Southampton in a game against Yeovil and we don’t want to risk losing him for five or six weeks.’
Meanwhile, on-loan Andy Griffin will feature against the Owls after arriving on a one-month loan deal from Portsmouth. John Eustance is also hoping to return to first-team action following an 18-month lay-off.
Player to watch: Vincent Pericard
The former Blades loanee signed for Stoke this summer after being released by Portsmouth. Born in Cameroon, the 23-year-old is a former France under-21 international and began his professional career with Saint Etienne before joining Italian giants Juventus as a 17-year-old in 2000. The attacker is likely to cause all sorts of problems for Coughlan and Bougherra in the Owls defence.
Match Facts & Stats
Last Time Out:
WEDNESDAY 0-2 Stoke City
26th November 2005 – Hillsborough
Wednesday were taught a footballing lesson by a stubborn Stoke side who got goals either side of half-time to wrap up the points. The Owls inexperience at Championship level told early doors when Bangoura put the visitors ahead on 18 minutes before his strike partner Sidibe made it 2-0 with four minutes remaining.
Total Meetings:
SWFC wins: 35
SCFC wins: 31
Draws: 19
Previous Line-Ups:
WEDNESDAY: Jones, Simek, Bougherra, Coughlan, Spurr, Sam (Brunt 60), Adams (Bullen 60), Whelan, O’Brien, Burton, Tudgay (Lunt 86).
Subs Not Used: Adamson, McAllister.
Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Duberry, Hill, Higginbotham, Chadwick (Whitley 69), Russell, Brammer, Sweeney (Harper 69), Pericard, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Hoefkens, Pulis, Rooney.
Match Betting:
-Taken from www.bet365.com-
SWFC Win: 6/5
Draw: 11/5
SCFC Win: 2/1
Championship Matches:
Tuesday
Burnley v Barnsley
Ipswich v Coventry
Leicester v Hull
Luton v Colchester
Plymouth v Cardiff
Preston v West Brom
Southend v Norwich
Wolverhampton v Derby
Crystal Palace v Southampton
QPR v Birmingham
Wednesday
Leeds v Sunderland
Next Fixtures:
Vs Hull City (A) – 15/08/2006
Vs Derby County (H) -23/08/2006
Vs Sunderland (A) – 30/08/2006
