Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham Match Preview
Twenty-third placed Sheffield Wednesday will host 19th placed Birmingham City at the Hillsborough Stadium on Saturday, February 10.
The hosts will enter this contest on the back of a rather mixed run of form. They have won just three of their last 10 games, losing five and drawing two of the others. They are also in a spot of bother in terms of scoring, with just two goals scored and 11 conceded in their last five games across competitions. Wednesday are already eight points from safety and with just a few months before the season ends, they will need to play out of their skins to potentially avoid the drop.
Meanwhile, Birmingham enter this contest on a slightly worse run of form compared to their next opponents. They have won just twice in their last 10 games across competitions, with four defeats and three draws making up the other results. In terms of goalscoring, they are slightly better off, with six goals scored in their last five games. They are currently 19th and just one point above the relegation zone and will look to accumulate positive results to create a comfortable gap.
On that note, let’s take a look at the team news from both sides ahead of this contest.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Sheffield Wednesday
Manager Danny Rohl will have his entire squad available for selection, with none of the players having any recent injuries to be concerned about. Long-term absentee Juan Delgado remains sidelined with a hip injury picked up in October last year.
Delgado as well as Will Vaulks face the risk of being suspended having already picked up four yellows in the Championship so far this season.
Rohl will likely stick to the same XI he fielded in a 4-0 drubbing at Huddersfield, hoping for a much-improved performance from his players.
Predicted XI: James Beadle (GK), Pol Valentin, Michael Ihiekwe, Di’Shon Bernard, Kristian Pedersen, Liam Palmer, Barry Bannan (C), Anthony Musaba, Ike Ugbo, Djeidi Gassama, Michael Smith.
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Birmingham
Tony Mowbray and his men fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion in their last game and will look to set the record straight next time around.
Midfielders Alfie Chang (knee) and George Hall (hamstring) remain sidelined since August last year and are unlikely to return before the end of the current season. Elsewhere, defenders Emanuel Aiwu and Emmanuel Longelo are at the risk of facing suspensions having already been booked four times.
Mowbray will likely stick with the XI he fielded in their last game.
Predicted XI: Neil Etheridge (GK), Ethan Laird, Krystian Bielik, Kevin Long, Lee Buchanan, Andre Dozzell, Ivan Sunjic (C), Koji Miyoshi, Alex Pritchard, Siriki Dembele, Jay Stansfield.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Games H2H
- Birmingham 2-1 Sheffield Wed (11/23)
- Sheffield Wed 0-1 Birmingham (02/21)
- Birmingham 0-1 Sheffield Wed (10/20)
- Birmingham 3-3 Sheffield Wed (02/20)
- Sheffield Wed 1-1 Birmingham (11/19)
Prediction
As you can see, Birmingham narrowly edge the head-to-head record two wins to Sheffield’s one. The teams have shared two score draws as well.
There is no clear pattern of results between the two sides, but there has been a clear winner in each of their last three games. The three prior to that all ended in draws.
The upcoming meeting, too, will be along the same lines as it is difficult to predict which of the two, if not both teams, will turn up on the day. However, Wednesday are likely to be very low on confidence after being mauled 4-0 by a team just two spots above themselves. This will give Birmingham the upper hand.
Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Birmingham.
Betting Tips
- Match Result: Birmingham.
- Both Teams to Score: No.
- Under 2.5 Goals: Yes.
Odds
- Sheffield Wednesday Win: 2.25
- Draw: 3.40
- Birmingham Win: 3.30
Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham Timings & Telecast
- Date & Time: Friday, February 9th at 8 PM (GMT).
- India: FanCode app & website.
- UK: Sky Sports.
- US: Hulu.