Sheffield Wednesday travel south this evening to face Watford in the Coca Cola Championship in front of the Sky TV cameras. The Owls will be looking to bounce back following Tuesday’s disappointing home defeat against Preston North End.
Wednesday played well in the first half against Preston but poor finishing and slack defending meant they were unable to take a deserved lead into half time and the away side capitalised on this to seal maximum points in the second half.
Despite playing good football in the majority of their games Wednesday have been let down by mistakes in both penalty areas and boss Brian Laws will be hoping this can be put right with the return of Marcus Tudgay and Richard Wood who both face late fitness tests.
Leon Clarke has been the most wasteful in front of goal and could face the axe if Tudgay is passed fit though his partner Luke Varney has not contributed a great deal of late either.
If Richard Wood is to return then either Mark Beevers or Daren Purse will lose their place in the side. Purse, who has rightly come in for some criticism of late, produced a much improved display against Coventry last weekend but was caught napping for Preston’s opening goal and was vulnerable throughout the game.
Winger Etienne Esajas will also have his fitness assessed and could challenge Jermaine Johnson, whose form has been inconsistent, for a place in the side.
Watford go in search of only their second home league win of the season without the services of Captain Jay DeMerit as he continues his rehabilitation from eye surgery.
On-loan QPR striker Heidar Helguson is also expected to miss out through injury but influential midfielder Tom Cleverley is expected to return having missed the midweek draw with Ipswich due to concussion. The youngster who is on loan from Premier League giants Manchester United has bagged 5 goals in just 10 league games for the Hornets so far.
Front-man Nathan Ellington bagged an important late equaliser in midweek and could be in contention for a place in the starting line-up.
Watford may only have one home win to date but they have faired much better away and come into this game having won at promotion chasing Middlesbrough last weekend and they snatched a late point at struggling Ipswich in midweek.
Much like Watford’s home form, Wednesday have a disappointing record on their travels to date with only one win at Plymouth to show from 6 away matches.
Going into the game the Hornets sit in 12th place in the Championship table on 18 points, two points ahead of the 15th placed Owls.
Wednesday rescued a point at Vicarage Road last season thanks to a late Francis Jeffers penalty in a 2-2draw but that is their only point from their last five visits to Watford, dating back to 2000 when they enjoyed a 3-1 win