Owls need positive away result to stay in touch with top 6

Last updated : 28 November 2015 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday travel west to Lancashire on Saturday to face Blackburn Rovers.

The Owls came back from behind to beat Huddersfield at home last weekend, a result that saw them move within touching distance of the top 6, but Carlos Carvalhal knows his side need to keep performing to keep up the pace in a very tight top half of the division.

Paul Lambert takes charge of his first home game as Blackburn boss and will no doubt get a warm welcome – even more so thanks to last weekends win at local rivals Preston in his first game in charge.

Rovers have few injury concerns but are waiting on the fitness of on-loan Leicester forward Tom Lawrence, who limped out of last weekends win. If Lawrence fails to prove his fitness then Chris Taylor is likely to deputise.

Defender Doneil Henry has signed on a loan deal from West Ham and could make his 2nd Rovers debut. The 22-year had a short loan spell at EwoodPark last season and made his Blackburn debut in a victory against the Owls at Hillsborough.

Wednesday are still likely to be without influential midfielder Barry Bannan as he looks to fully recover from a minor knee injury. Holding midfielder Sam Hutchinson is also out as he serves the final game of a 2-match suspension. Spanish midfielder Alex Lopez is close to a return to action after 2 months out injured and Portugal striker Lucas Joao will be hoping to regain a place in the starting line up having scored twice after coming off the bench last Saturday.

Wednesday have suffered just 1 defeat in 13 games in all competitions but have only won 2 of their 8 away games in the Championship.

Blackburn will be buoyed by the flying start made under Paul Lambert, winning away at Preston last time out and they are unbeaten in 4 games but too many draws so far means they currently occupy a mid-table position, 7 points behind the Owls.

Last seasons clashes between the two sides saw an away win each, both by the same 2-1 score. The win at EwoodPark just under a year ago was only the 2nd time that the Owls have won there in their last 12 visits.