Sheffield Wednesday travel to Notts County on Saturday after a week where off-field issues have once again come to the fore. The club have been served with a winding up petition over unpaid tax by HMRC for the second time in a matter of months with a court date set for mid-November.
A recent slump in form coincided with initial news of serious problems in meeting such liabilities but the time must come for the players and staff to ensure that they are fully focussed on on-field matters. The club clarified this week that despite the ongoing problems with the taxman all staff payments have been guaranteed and are being paid on time. SWFC has stressed that they do not see the threat of administration as being the likely outcome and as such the players and management need to take responsibility for their performances.
The Owls come into the game with an almost fully fit squad. Left-back Tommy Spurr was forced off in the midweek game with Oldham as a result of a head injury but should be available. Rumour has it that winger Jermaine Johnson may make the squad for the first time this season but given the amount of time his injury has kept him sidelined for it seems unlikely that he will feature.
A number of combinations have been tried in midfield of late and changes may be made again. Tommy Miller started on the left of midfield in midweek to good effect but would possibly be better utilised in a central role alongside Giles Coke with Teale and Tudgay in wide positions. This however is a somewhat attacking line up and Alan Irvine appears to favour a more cautious approach at the moment. Tudgay has been short of goals up front and may benefit from a wide role where he had a great deal of success two seasons ago when at his best. Paul Heffernan deserves to be given a chance up front as none of the other strikers have been pulling up any trees though they have had a great deal of service recently.
The home side have injury and suspension problems influencing their line up ahead of the game. Former Doncaster Rovers midfielder Ricky Ravenhill was sent off in midweek and will miss this match as a result. Goal grabber Lee Hughes missed the midweek game at Peterborough due to a hip injury but could be in line for a return. Fellow forward Ben Burgess remains sidelined. Craig Westcarr was on the score sheet in the 3-2 midweek win but picked up a knock and is a doubt. Influential midfielder Ben Davies caused the Owls plenty of problems when the two sides met at Hillsborough in the Football League Trophy last month and is likely to be pivotal to the home sides attacking threat.
Former Wednesday goalkeeper Rob Burch returned to the Magpies starting line up in midweek and could keep is place. Ex Owls defender Graeme Lee missed that game through injury but is expected to be back in contention.
Wednesday come into the game on the back of a dour 0-0 home draw with Oldham in midweek though that result did at least bring to an end a run of four successive league defeats. The Owls away record tells a sorry story with just one win in the last
County will no doubt be buoyed by their midweek win at in-form Peterborough. Since losing their opening day home fixture against Huddersfield, County have won three out of three at Meadow Lane, scoring 8 goals in the process.
Wednesday’s last win this season came in an entertaining 2-1 victory over County at Hillsborough in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on September 1st. The Owls last trip to Meadow Lane came in April 2004 resulting in a forgettable 0-0 draw.