/football/sheffield-wednesday/preview/preview-sheff-weds-vs-birmingham-prediction-team-news-lineups_435765.html Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Birmingham City - MX23RW : Monday, March 1 19:51:52| >> :120:19935:19935:

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City face off in a huge clash at the bottom end of the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The two sides are in the relegation zone after tasting defeat in midweek and are locked level on points heading into this game at Hillsborough.


Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Neil Thompson pictured in February 2021© Reuters

Wednesday were always likely to spend the campaign fighting for survival after being hit with a 12-point deduction, later reduced to six on appeal.

That has proved the case, the Owls finding themselves second from bottom with 29 games of their campaign played - one match fewer than Birmingham.

City were perhaps not expecting to be embroiled in a relegation dogfight, however, especially with Aitor Karanka - a man with experience of escaping the division the right way - placed in charge.

Less than a year on from his appointment, however, Karanka is now fighting to save his job following an 11-match winless run in the Championship, with seven of those ending in defeat.

The most recent of those losses came away to Millwall on Wednesday - Jed Wallace and Ben Thompson scoring for the home side in what was a comfortable victory at The Den.

Birmingham City manager Aitor Karanka pictured on January 10, 2021© Reuters

Wednesday also fell to defeat in midweek, going down 1-0 against Stoke City to a late goal from their former striker Steven Fletcher.

Both sides are now a point from safety in what is proving to be an entertaining battle at the bottom end of the division.

The one saving grace for Wednesday has been their home form, having won five on the spin at Hillsborough - not since August 2012 have they enjoyed a longer-such streak.

That includes a run of three successive clean sheets on home soil, and five in their last six. Birmingham, by comparison, have failed to score in three of their last five away games.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form: LWWLWL

Birmingham City Championship form: LDDLLL


Team News

Sheffield Wednesday's Massimo Luongo celebrates scoring their first goal against Stoke on October 22, 2019© Reuters

Wednesday were without Massimo Luongo and Andre Green against Stoke and interim boss Neil Thompson is unsure whether either player will be back for Saturday's match.

Thompson may be tempted to make some changes on the back of the late loss last time out, which could mean recalls for Josh Windass and Elias Kachunga.

As for Birmingham, they went with Scott Hogan and Lukas Jutkiewicz in attack against Millwall after losing Sam Cosgrove to injury.

City, who have failed to score in eight of their last 11 matches, are almost certain to be without Cosgrove once again here.

Jonathan Leko and Ivan Sanchez will be hoping for a place in the XI after being named among the subs in midweek.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood; Lees, Dunkley, Urhoghide; Harris, Shaw, Hutchinson, Bannan, Reach; Rhodes, Paterson

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Etheridge; Valery, Dean, Friend, Pedersen; Harper, Sunjic; Leko, Halilovic, Bela; Hogan


SM words green background

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Birmingham City

Both sides will be looking to respond to midweek defeats in this relegation six-pointer.

Birmingham are unbeaten in three successive away league games against Wednesday, but the home side have been impressive on home soil over the past couple of months.

Indeed, the Owls have won five home league games on the spin - as many as they did in their previous 26 - and we are backing them to come out on top this weekend.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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How you voted: Sheff Weds vs Birmingham

Sheffield Wednesday
65.3%
Draw
24.5%
Birmingham City
10.2%
49
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Birmingham City manager Aitor Karanka pictured on January 10, 2021
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Karanka not interested in looking at Championship table
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich33217547252270
2Brentford33189661352663
3Watford33179743241960
4Swansea CitySwansea31178639221759
5Reading33166114537854
6Bournemouth331410947321552
7Barnsley32156113836251
8Cardiff CityCardiff331481149351450
9Middlesbrough33138123835347
10Stoke CityStoke331112103837145
11Bristol City33143163544-945
12Millwall3391683230243
13Preston North EndPreston33134163742-543
14Luton TownLuton32118132737-1041
15Blackburn RoversBlackburn32117144638840
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest331010132832-440
17Queens Park RangersQPR311010113136-540
18Derby CountyDerby32108142533-838
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield33106173850-1236
20Coventry CityCoventry33811143044-1435
21Birmingham CityBirmingham33810152541-1634
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham3185183342-929
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds3297162338-1528
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe3258192353-3023

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