Two teams with faint hopes of extending their season come May meet at Hillsborough this weekend with the home side rejuvenated by their recent takeover. They will also be saying thanks and bidding farewell to departing chairman Milan Mandaric. Wednesday lie in 10th place, nine points off the top six and Cardiff find themselves in a below par 13th place, 13 points off the leading pack. Both teams will be hoping to give debuts to new signings after both being successful in the January transfer window with the Welsh side bringing in seven new faces, including league 1 top scorer Eoin Doyle from Chesterfield. The Owls also brought in seven new players, managing to bring in Bulgarian striker Sergiu Bus and Lewis McGugan returning on loan.
Cardiff have been struggling of late under Russell Slade and are lower down the league table than they would have expected to be. City have lost their last three games in the Championship, against Derby, Norwich and Middlesborough. Wednesday have also not won in their last three league games, losing to Bolton and Reading whilst drawing at home to Birmingham. Wednesday’s home form all season has been poor and their pitch was recently criticised by Birmingham boss Gary Rowett, with The Owls boss Stuart Gray admitting that the pitch is “a leveller”. Low scoring Wednesday have only scored 21 in the league and have failed to score in their last 2 games.
Sheffield Wednesday Team News
Last time out( Reading away 2-0 defeat): Westwood, Palmer Lees Loovens Mattock, Maghoma Hutchinson Baker Lee Maguire, Keane.
Wednesday will be forced into at least 1 change after captain Glen Loovens picked up his 10th yellow card of the season and was hit with a 2 match ban. Jose Semedo is still a doubt after failing to recover from his foot injury in time, Lewis Buxton has returned to training this week.
New signings Marnick Vermijl, Felipe Melo, Bus and McGugan could make their first appearances since signing on deadline day.
Predicted line up: Westwood, Palmer Dielna Lees Mattock, Maguire Melo Baker Helan, Keane Bus
Cardiff City Team News
Last time out: (Derby home 2-0 defeat): Moore, Peltier Morrison Connolly Malone, Noone O’Keefe Gunnarsson Harris Wittingham, Revell.
Keeper David Marshall is aiming to be fit, if not Moore will continue in goal. Kagisho Dikgacoi and Anthony Pilkington are still ruled out injured. Doyle is expected to make his debut upfront, with new signings Lee Peltier and Stuart O’Keefe looking to cement their places in the starting 11 as we head into the business end of the season.
Predicted line up: Moore, Peltier Morrison Connolly Malone, Wittingham O’Keefe Adeyemi Harris, Doyle Revell
Prediction and Match Odds
Sheffield Wednesday (11/10) Draw (9/4) Cardiff City (13/5) Sky Bet
Two teams who have struggled with finding a level of consistency and they will match each other in every department. Wednesday don’t score many at home and there won’t be much between the sides, draw written all over it, 1-1.
