Sheffield Wednesday travel to Swansea on Saturday knowing that time is running out in their bid to achieve Championship survival. The trip to South Wales is not the easiest at the best of times but with the home side looking for points in order to secure a play-off berth and Wednesday struggling to pick up points at all on the road this will be a tough ask.
It is looking more and more likely that at least 5 more wins will be needed if the Owls are to give themselves a chance and with only 11 fixtures remaining Wednesday can not afford to have the mindset anything picked up away to a top six side is a bonus, all games have to be regarded as vital opportunities to pick up the points required. They may have taken some heart from the midweek display in the narrow loss at WBA but they need to start taking points and not just pride from such performances sooner rather than later.
As far as team news is concerned Wednesday go into the game this weekend with no new problems. Marcus Tudgay missed the West Brom game on Tuesday due to illness but is expected to be available. Bringing last season’s top scorer back into the starting line-up could be the only change that Alan Irvine is likely to make with Luke Varney expected to make way if this is the case.
Swansea are expected to field in-form former Owls man Shefki Kuqi in attack but another ex-Wednesday player, defender Garry Monk is struggling to prove his fitness in time for the clash as a result of a calf injury. The home side will also be without the unfortunate Ferrie Bodde as the talented midfielder has suffered yet another injury setback. Gorka Pintado misses out once again due to a lengthy and fully deserved suspension but former blade David Cotterill could return with Cedric Van Der Gun likely to make way if the Welshman does make the starting line up.
Only Peterborough and Derby have picked up less wins than the Owls on their travels in the Coca-Cola Championship this season whilst Swansea have only lost twice at home so far and are unbeaten in their last six at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea have only lost one of their last 11 matches and beat the Owls comfortably by two goals to nil at Hillsborough in December.
That defeat was the first time Wednesday had ever lost a home game to Swansea and they also have a decent away record against them, winning five and losing four of only twelve matches between the two sides in Wales to date. The Owls have only made the trip once in the past 25 years, drawing 1-1 last season thanks to a headed goal by Steve Watson.