Stern test of Owls fine away record in store this weekend

Last updated : 05 December 2014 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to build on last weekends win over Wigan but it will be a tough task to do so against in-form Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Stuart Gray will be forced into a change of line up due to the fact that Jose Semedo misses out by serving a 1-match ban for picking up his 5th booking of the season last weekend. Claude Dielna, Paul Corry and Kieran Lee could come into contention to replace Semedo with Dielna perhaps offering the most like-for-like replacement in terms of a defensive midfield role. Another option could be to change formation and sacrifice an attacking player and bring an extra man into midfield to attempt to stop Blackburn's attacking play but Gray may be reluctant to make too many changes after the positive display against Wigan.

The Owls are still without a number of injured players including right-bakc Lewis Buxton and central midfielders Sam Hutchinson and Giles Coke.

Blackburn are without former Wednesday left-back Tommy Spurr who is yet to feature this season due to a groin injury. Ex-Owls loan player Ben Marshall has been in fine form for Rovers of late and is expected to play.

Rovers captain Grant Hanley was forced off in the first half of last weekends draw at Middlsebrough due to an ankle injury but the Scottish international has made a good recovery and is in line to feature.

Jason Lowe, Josh King and Matt Kilgallon are unlikely to be fit enough to play but Tom Cairney is available having served a suspension.

Rovers manager Gary Bowyer has a decision to make in terms of who to choose in goal. Regular 1st choice stopper Jason Steele was ineligible to play against his parent club Middlesbrough last Saturday and his replacement Simon Eastwood produced a man-of-the-match display.

The win against Wigan was Wednesday's first in eleven league games but most of those have resulted in draws and the Owls have only lost one Championship away game in 9 matches on the road this season.

Blackburn are on a run of 9 matches without defeat and have only lost once in 9 home games.

Wednesday earned a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park almost a year ago and the two sides also picked up a point when they last faced each other – a 3-3 draw at Hillsborough in April.