Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to move to the top of the Championship table on their return from the international break, Burnley will travel to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
The visitors sit a point outside of the top two after nine league outings, while their hosts climbed to 15th spot with an upturn in form before the break.
Match preview
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Sheffield Wednesday return to action at Hillsborough on Saturday aiming to pick up where they left off before the October international break, having bounced back from a poor start to their Championship campaign.
Aiming to kick on from last season’s memorable survival, Danny Rohl‘s side sat on just four points from their first six matches, managing a victory on the opening day and conceding 12 goals over the next five outings.
The Owls would return to winning ways in impressive fashion in South Yorkshire, hosting then-leaders West Bromwich Albion and picking up a 3-2 triumph thanks to Anthony Musaba‘s 86th-minute goal, before visiting Bristol City and taking a point from a goalless stalemate.
Another tough test away at Coventry City then followed in their final outing before the second break, and Rohl’s men again prevailed thanks to a late winner, as Djeidi Gassama tied them level at a goal apiece on the stroke of half time and Shea Charles snatched all three points in injury time.
Having started to climb the division with that improved run, now sitting 15th and just a single point outside the top 10, Sheffield Wednesday will bid to make it four games unbeaten with another victory on Saturday.
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That is no easy task, though, as their visitors arrive in Yorkshire in the midst of a six-game unbeaten streak of their own in the Championship.
Aiming to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking under the new management of Scott Parker this season, Burnley currently sit third in England’s second tier, having amassed 18 points from their first nine outings.
That is largely down to their success at the back, having only conceded four goals across those games including just two in their six-match streak heading into the break, albeit while only scoring five of their own along the way.
Following back-to-back victories over Leeds United and Portsmouth and a goalless draw with Oxford United, the Clarets recorded a fifth league victory of the season against Plymouth Argyle, as Josh Brownhill netted the only goal, but they were unable to make it back-to-back wins heading into the break as Preston North End held Parker’s men to a stalemate at Turf Moor.
With plenty of positives to take from their start to the season, particularly at the back, Burnley will be keen to kick off on their return to action and end a tough spell at the top end of the pitch with a resounding victory at Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:
Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions):
Burnley Championship form:
Team News
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Danny Rohl should deploy a similar Sheffield Wednesday starting XI from their victory over Coventry City before the international break on Saturday, with Nathaniel Chalobah set to remain sidelined by injuries while Anthony Musaba picked up a fresh concern in his substitute appearance.
Dominic Iorfa did return to contention after his own layoff to feature on the bench in that game, though, and he will hope to rejoin Di’Shon Bernard and Akin Famewo in a back three after Yan Valery deputised against Coventry.
Southampton loanee Shea Charles, who netted his first goal for the Owls last time out, will continue to join Barry Bannan in the engine room, while Ike Ugbo, Josh Windass and Michael Smith will compete to return in attacking roles after Svante Ingelsson and Djeidi Gassama supported Jamal Lowe in their 2-1 victory.
Burnley continue to contend with plenty of injury concerns heading into the weekend, as Jordan Beyer, Hjalmar Ekdal, Joe Worrall, Manuel Benson, Nathan Redmond and Aaron Ramsey could all remain confined to the treatment room.
Striker Lyle Foster also picked up an injury concern while on international duty for South Africa, and if he is not deemed fit to start, Jay Rodriguez may come in to lead the line from the outset.
Scott Parker does still have an abundance of quality to deploy, though, with Luca Koleosho, Hannibal Mejbri and Jaidon Anthony likely lending support to the lone front man and Josh Cullen and Josh Brownhill bound to continue in the engine room.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Iorfa, Bernard, Famewo; Valery, Charles, Bannan, Johnson; Gassama, Ugbo, J Lowe
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Brownhill; Koleosho, Mejbri, Anthony; Rodriguez
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Burnley
Despite their lofty league position, Burnley are yet to truly kick into gear under Scott Parker, particularly going forward having only scored five goals in their last seven games.
Their lack of fluidity, combined with the hosts’ gain in momentum before the break, leads us to anticipate a draw at Hillsborough.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.