Rams Vs Owls: Team news

Last updated : 03 October 2009 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday travel to struggling Derby County on Saturday as they look to extend a run that has seen them pick up four points from the last two games.

The Owls look set to make at least one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace in midweek. Loan striker Luke Varney is ineligible to play against his parent club so Marcus Tudgay should start against his former club. Tudgay started from the bench at Crystal Palace after feeling a neck strain. Leon Clarke is expected to start alongside Tudgay despite missing a host of chances at Selhurst Park.

Elsewhere Etienne Esajas should keep his place in wide midfield ahead of Jermaine Johnson as he look to continue his personal good run of form and there should be no changes to the defence that should have grown in confidence after only their second clean sheet of the season in the league last time out.

The home side will no doubt still be smarting from the crushing 6-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Cardiff City in midweek and so will be looking to prove themselves. Rams manager Brian Clough is unable to make wholesale changes to the side that capitulated on Tuesday as they have a long list of injury problems.

Defender Paul Connolly and midfielder Kris Commons are two players that could make timely returns to boost the side and on loan Everton striker James Vaughan may return to the starting line-up.

Centre-back Dean Leacock was forced off during the first half at Cardiff and faces a late test. Chris Porter, Miles Addison, Stephen Pearson and Paul Green are all set to miss out once again.

Derby have won three and lost three at home so far in the Championship this season but have lost five of their last six games including the 6-1 drubbing at Cardiff last time out, a run that has seen them slump to 20th place in the division though they are only 3 points behind the Owls.

After a run of one point from three games Wednesday have bounced back to take four points from the last two fixtures, they have won one, lost two and drawn two on the road so far in the league.

Wednesday were beaten convincingly on the last visit to Pride Park as the home side ran out easy 3-0 winners last November. The Rams were also 1-0 winners at Hillsborough back in April, Wednesday’s last victory at Pride Park came on the final day of the 2005/06 season when Marcus Tudgay opened the scoring in a 2-0 victory.