After dropping to League One at the start of the season, Sheffield Wednesday entered the campaign ready for a rebuild and quick return to the second tier. The side have had their fair share of misfortune with injuries to key players throughout, but strength in depth means they have managed to hover in and around a play-off spot seeking promotion back to the Championship.
With Sheffield Wednesday’s game against Accrington Stanley postponed just 90 minutes before the scheduled kick-off midweek, the postponed fixture may not have necessarily been a bad thing for the Owls. Moore’s side suffered yet another injury blow last weekend in their 2-0 loss to top side Rotherham, with former Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers performer Nathaniel Mendez-Laing ruled out. However, the diagnosis is that he should not miss extended time away from the pitch, and could make a recovery by March. Josh Windass is also on the injury list for the Owls – as a player that’s tied for the second-most goals scored on the team this season. The Windass injury, as previously feared, should also be a speedy one, and he will likely not miss the remainder of the season, as it was feared by early prognosis last week.
Moore started the season with a traditional 4-3-3 formation, but has since tinkered with the line-up in games, most recently using a 3-5-2 setup against Rotherham a week ago.
The Owls arrive at Eco-Power Stadium in fine form having won six games and lost two across all competitions in that span. The team is currently sitting eighth in the League One table on 52 points, and just a point away from a play-off spot with Plymouth Argyle holding firm in that spot with 53 points.
For Wednesday, they have won six games and lost four in their last 10 league fixtures. In their last 15 games, the Owls have won eight, lost five and drawn twice. They’re averaging 1.35 goals per game in the league this season, while allowing 1.10 goals per contest to League One competition.
The Owls have scored 42 goals in the league this season conceding 34 goals. Sheffield Wednesday have 10 draws this season in the league – the most of any team in the top 10. In October, the Owls saw a run of four consecutive games in the league result in a draw, while they won two and lost one in that month.
However, the Owls have been able to keep clean sheets this season. Four of their last five games have included clean sheet victories for Moore’s side. In all this season, Sheffield Wednesday have collected 12 clean sheets in all competitions, including four goalless draws.
Prior to the meeting at Hillsborough near the start of this season back in August, Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers had not met in a competitive fixture since the two teams squared off in the Championship back on 22 March 2014. The Owls took a 2-0 win at home from Rovers this season, but it was Rovers taking both contests at home and away during the 2013/14 season.
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