Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides in identical form face off at Hillsborough on Monday evening as relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday host top-six chasing Cardiff City.

Wednesday remain inside the bottom three after losing 1-0 to Watford on Friday, while Cardiff went down 1-0 to Nottingham Forest to leave their promotion hopes hanging by a thread.

Match preview

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A defeat, a draw, a victory and a defeat. That is the sequence of results for both Wednesday and Cardiff heading into this showdown in Yorkshire, although the sides' targets are completely different.

Whereas the hosts are in desperate need of points to claw themselves out of the relegation zone, the Bluebirds know that another loss here could well end their top-six aspirations for good.

Wednesday were rather unfortunate to lose against Watford on Good Friday, going down to a controversial early Tom Lees own goal that they argued should never have been allowed to stand.

The goal was given, though, and the Owls are now seven points adrift of Coventry City in 21st place with eight matches to go.

Darren Moore's side are winless in four at Hillsborough, losing three of those, which comes on the back of a run of five successive victories there to revive their survival hopes.

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That is in contrast to Cardiff's away form, the Welsh side beating bitter rivals Swansea City 1-0 last time out on their travels to make it eight away matches without a defeat in 2021.

However, City's home form has let them down over the past month, collecting just one point from games with Watford, Stoke City and Forest.

James Garner's 29th-minute strike ensured Forest became the latest side to leave the Cardiff City Stadium with three points, though Mick McCarthy felt his side deserved at least a draw on the basis of their second-half display.

Monday's clash at Hillsborough has now become even more important for both sides, then, as the Championship promotion and relegation race reaches a pivotal point.

Team News

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Kadeem Harris was an unused substitute against Watford, but he may be considered for a recall on Monday against his former side.

Liam Shaw recovered from injury to make an appearance from the bench at Vicarage Road, while Liam Palmer is another contender to return to the XI.

The likes of Massimo Luongo, Dominic Iorfa and Moses Odubajo are all out, however, and manager Moore may also be absent after contracting coronavirus.

Cardiff could be without captain Sean Morrison at Hillsborough due to a calf strain that kept the defender out against Forest.

Young defender Joel Bagan has undergone shoulder surgery and will definitely play no part, while fellow left-back Joe Bennett is some way off a return from an ACL injury.

Perry Ng was back among the subs last time out and is expected to come back into the starting lineup here, and there could also be a start for Seyi Ojo out wide.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Urhoghide, Lees, Borner; Paterson, Pelupessy, Bannan, Reach; Windass, Harris; Rhodes

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Nelson, Flint, Brown; Ng, Pack, Vaulks, Ralls; Wilson, Moore, Ojo

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Cardiff City

Sheffield Wednesday won 2-0 at Cardiff on the opening weekend of the season and are seeking a first league double in this fixture since 1983-84.

Cardiff were 2-1 winners the last time the sides met at Hillsborough, meanwhile, and could win consecutive league games there for the first time since 1976.

Ultimately, though, we can see two sides in identical form cancelling each other out in this Easter Monday clash.