Sheffield Wednesday return to home action this Saturday having claimed a deserved point from their short trip across the steel city last weekend. A 2-2 draw earned with 2 late goals was the least that the Owls merited have created plenty of chances in the Sheffield derby. If Gary Megson’s third-placed team are to keep the heat on Charlton and Huddersfield at the top then they must maintain their fine home form.
Wednesday will be without striker David McGoldrick who returned to Nottingham Forest on Monday following the completion of his month-long loan spell. The Owls are boosted however by the return from injury of forward Ryan Lowe who is expected to take a place on the bench.
Having performed well at Bramall Lane few changes to the starting eleven are anticipated though winger Jermaine Johnson could come into contention for a starting place should Megson choose to adopt a slightly more attacking approach on home soil.
Colchester travel to Hillsborough with a number of defensive worries. Centre-back Pat Baldwin will miss the match due to a fractured toe. He was replaced by Matt Heath for last weekend’s draw with Rochdale but Heath was replaced early in the second half with an ankle injury and faces a late assessment on his fitness.
Fellow centre-half Magnus Okuonghae was sent off in the 1st half last Saturday and now serves a suspension.
In order to try and ease these problems manager John Ward has recalled young defender Tom Eastman from a loan spell at League Two high-flyers Crawley Town.
Wednesday go into Saturday’s match unbeaten in 5 games having won all of their 6 home games in the league so far this season.
Colchester are unbeaten in 4 games and their only defeat in their last 8 matches came inSheffieldagainst the Blades last month.
The Owls got the better of Colchester last season, drawing 1-1 away early on in the season and winning 2-1 at Hillsborough in April thanks to a Neil Mellor double. The visitors do however boast a good record at Hillsborough having won 4 and drawn 1 of the 9 games they have played at S6.