Playoff-chasing Sheffield Wednesday will play host to Accrington Stanley on Wednesday evening looking to bounce back from their defeat to leaders Rotherham United at the weekend.
While the Owls begin the week just a point adrift of the top six, Accrington remain in the mid-table positions despite two successive wins in League One.
Match preview
On the back of their best run of results this season, Sheffield Wednesday would have been confident of earning at least a share of the spoils against Rotherham at Hillsborough.
However, two second-half goals secured a sixth successive victory for the Millers, as well as condemning Wednesday to a defeat after a four-match winning streak.
Still possessing a game in hand on some of the teams above them, Owls boss Darren Moore will not be overly concerned at this stage, but he will recognise the importance of getting back on track on Wednesday night.
With none of their immediate rivals playing on Tuesday, Wednesday can move into fifth position with all three points, and they will back themselves to achieve that with just two home defeats in 15 games this campaign.
Although the Yorkshire giants have scored 12 times in eight matches since the turn of the year, a third of those strikes came in the same contest.
Having established a 13-point margin between themselves and the relegation zone, Accrington can travel to Hillsborough with minimal pressure on their shoulders.
That was not the case throughout January and the start of February after extending their winless streak to six games, but successive triumphs have lifted the mood at the North-West outfit.
Their victories have come against Oxford United and Crewe Alexandra, the second of those games seeing Stanley net four or more goals for the second time this season.
John Coleman's team netted six goals during that double-header, more than they scored in the six games which preceded the Oxford fixture.
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- D
- L
- D
- L
- W
- W
Team News
While Moore will not overreact to the Rotherham defeat, the Wednesday boss may freshen up his starting lineup for this contest.
At least one of Sylla Sow and Florian Kamberi should come into the team, while Saido Berahino will also hope for an opportunity in the final third.
Wednesday continue to contend with widespread injury issues, but Dominic Iorfa and Lewis Gibson are closing in on a return after muscle problems.
Coleman will have to make at least one change to his Accrington XI with Harvey Rodgers potentially deputising for the suspended Ross Sykes.
Colby Bishop came through 90 minutes at the weekend after an ankle injury, while recent addition Marcel Lewis is likely to start on the substitutes' bench after his 20-minute cameo.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; Storey, Hutchinson, Palmer; Hunt, Byers, Luongo, Bannan, Johnson; Kamberi, Paterson
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Savin; Clark, Rodgers, Nottingham, Amankwah; Leigh, Butcher, Hamilton; Adedoyin, Bishop, McConville
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Accrington Stanley
On the back of a quick turnaround for Wednesday and Accrington's form having improved, this feels like a difficult match to call. Nevertheless, the home side should have enough in the tank to get over the line, potentially by the narrowest of margins.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
