Wednesday are back in action once again the Championship and this time it is arguably the biggest clash at home since Arsenal rolled in and very quickly out of Sheffield. Leeds, a clash of two of England’s famous heavyweights and without question the two biggest and most successful sides in God’s county of Yorkshire.
The sides shared a battling one – one draw back in August 2015 as Carlos Carvalhal and a host of new names were settling into the English game. The match will be forever remembered for Marco Matias’s devine volley in the first half that stunned the Elland Road crowd and the Sky Sports viewers. Since then Leeds (of course) have appointed a new manager, well known to many Wednesday fans after his time at Rotherham United. Steve Evans, a manager with a style and attitude that fits perfectly with the West Yorkshire giants. However he hasn’t found life at Elland Road that easy as his side struggles to make traction in the Championship. In fairness, above Evans the carnival going ons won’t help.
However, that won’t count for much when the whistle is blown at 12.30 on Saturday January 16th. Wednesday will be seeking their fourth win of 2016 and third inside a week at Hillsborough. As well as continuing the impressive run of home form this season that has only seen Carvalhal’s side lose to runaway leaders Middlesbrough.eed on the other hand don’t want to be dragged into a scrap for survival and are instead wanting to look up the Championship table so the match could swing either way.
So, complacency is not an option in what could be a week when Wednesday finally topple into the top six for the first time this season. Fans expect a hard fought game but are hoping that Wednesday can deliver what many believe, which is for Carvalhal’s Owls can do and that’s six points out of six this week.
Wednesday Team News –
Carlos Carvalhal is hoping that strike duo Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper shake off their slight knocks to feature in the all Yorkshire clash this weekend. Other than known existing injuries to Hutchinson, Lees, Turner, Westwood and Melo the Portuguese coach has the same options in front of him as he did against Fulham and Bolton.
With the Owls strength in depth and competition for places Liam Palmer could replace Jack Hunt at right back. Hunt did struggle at times against Bolton but does offer the pace and additional attacking option that Carvalhal likes to use at Hillsborough. With Lees out, expect Sasso and Loovens to continue their partnership at the back with Wildsmith likely to continue between the sticks. Wildsmith has performed so well since Boxing Day that during the extended absence of Number One Westwood, many fans have hardly noticed such as the confidence that the club, coaches, fans and players have in the England Under 21 stopper.
One name Owls fans would like to see added to the Owls bench is that of Marco Matias who has recovered fully from his Hernia operation. Seeing his name of the team sheet again will serve to evoke memories of his strike at Elland Road earlier in the season and play on the minds of the Leeds defence should he be called onto feature.
Leeds Team News –
Steve Evans is finding it tough going at Leeds and is without a win in four, but many will count them unlucky last time out at Ipswich Town going down 2 – 1 with the winner scored late on in injury time. Evans has doubts around former Leicester City striker Chris Wood who has suffered a hamstring issue and has missed the last three games.
Midfielder Luke Murphy and defender Sol Bamba are in contention to return at Hillsborough, but other than that Leeds have a fully fit squad to pick from.
Match Facts –
Wednesday have only won once against Yorkshire rivals Leeds at Hillsborough in the last seven matches. That however, was the infamous 6 – 0 crushing of the Whites. A repeat of that on Saturday is unlikely but Owls fans can always dream!
Vital Wednesday Predicts –
@EPJwednesday Owls 2 – Leeds 2
@greg10greg10 Owls 4 – Leeds 4
@JoshAlexCaddick Owls 3 – Leeds 0
@PoshBoy16 Owls 3 – Leeds 1
Remember to follow the game with us on Twitter via @VitalWednesday and tweet along plus interact with us!
Remember though you can also login using Facebook and Twitter so do this pre-match, during the match and of course post-match right here with some comments below, in the forum and throughout the site…
Tweets by @VitalWednesday
Share this article
Related Articles
