Sheffield Wednesday travel south to take on in form Southampton at St Mary’s in front of the Sky TV cameras on Saturday evening. After back to back home defeats the Owls will be hoping to maintain their recent away form that has seen them pick up 7 points from their last 3 matches on the road.
Mark Beevers picked up an injury in the defeat against Peterborough on Tuesday evening that could well keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. Centre-backs Rob Jones and Danny Batth have been brought in on loan from Scunthorpe and Wolves respectively and both are in contention to make their debuts.
An improved second half in midweek saw substitute Paul Heffernan grab a goal for the Owls and he is likely to start alongside Gary Madine in attack.
Southampton are likely to be without influential midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is expected to remain side-lined due to injury and they are also without Oscar Gobern after he picked up a needless red-card in last weekend’s win at Bournemouth.
Wednesday’s porous defence faces a tough test to try and keep the strike partnership of Lee Barnard and Ricky Lambert at bay as the duo have 27 league goals between them this season.
The Owls have lost 3 of their last 4 matches but are unbeaten in their last 3 away games. Only 2 teams in League One have suffered more than the 10 away defeats that Wednesday have had to date in the league this season.
Southampton have won their last 3 matches and have lost just 1 of their last 9 games. They have only suffered 3 home defeats in the league so far this season and have not lost a league games at St Mary’s since December.
Wednesday have recorded a respectable 12 wins and 10 draws from 40 visits to Southampton but failed to win any of their 5 visits to St Mary’s. Their last win came at The Dell in 1997 when they came from 2-1 down to win 3-2.
The two teams last met at Hillsborough in September when Southampton took the points thanks to a solitary goal from Barnard.