Sheffield Wednesday will have their work cut out if they are to achieve a long overdue first home league win of 2011 against in form Peterborough tonight. The Posh are unbeaten in 7 games and have won 6 of them, scoring plenty of goals in the process.
The Owls have major doubts over the fitness of striker Gary Madine, who is pivotal to the way they shape up under Gary Megson. Madine missed Saturday’s defeat to Notts County but neither Neil Mellor nor Clinton Morrison did a great deal to impress in his absence and Paul Heffernan will be hoping for a recall should the former Carlisle front man remain side-lined.
Lewis Buxton is closing in on a return from a hamstring injury but Megson may be cautious in terms of rushing him back in too soon given that he has aggravated the injury twice on previous returns to the fold.
Midfielder Giles Coke will be hoping for a start having been on the bench on Saturday due to a slight injury. On loan Aston Villa midfielder Isaiah Osbourne was forced off in the second half against County and will have his fitness assessed.
Peterborough have today turned down a bid from Championship high-flyers Norwich City for their in-form striker Craig Mackail-Smith. The Posh will be hoping that this bid has not distracted the top scorer in League One and he will be in the squad for this evening’s fixture.
The visitors remain with injured duo Lee Frecklington and Dave Hibbert but have no fresh injury or suspension concerns and are expected to field the same side that battered Carlisle 6-0 at London Road on Saturday.
Wednesday have not won a home league game since December and have not kept a clean sheet at Hillsborough in 8 games in all competitions. As top scorers in League One Peterborough will be hoping to take advantage of this. The Posh have scored 15 times in their last 4 matches and despite having one of the poorest defensive records in the division they have not conceded a goal in the last 4 games.
The Owls were beaten 5-3 at London Road last month having led 3-2 before Darren Potter was red-carded. More encouraging news for Wednesday is that they have only lost once in 8 home fixtures against Peterborough, winning 6 of these games.