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

At a time when the home side are eight points adrift of safety, Birmingham are now just four points above the drop zone after an indifferent start to life under Tony Mowbray.

Match preview

As a result of their struggles in the league, Danny Rohl would not have been placing an extended run in the FA Cup at the top of his priority list, yet he would have recognised the opportunity that was on the horizon for his side.

Rather than setting up a fifth-round date with non-league Maidstone United, Sheffield Wednesday succumbed to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Coventry City in their replay on Tuesday night.

Three goals within the first 13 minutes of the second half did the damage, and the Owls have now conceded four times in each of their last two away fixtures, the other occasion coming at relegation rivals Huddersfield Town three days earlier.

Rohl's side have now gone six matches without success, the only positive during that run being a goalless draw at home to Watford, and you have to go back to January 1 for their last win in the Championship.

Still just 10 points adrift of 16th place, all is not lost for Sheffield Wednesday at this stage, but there is an acceptance that another victory needs to be recorded as soon as possible.

The same can be said for Birmingham with Mowbray yet to make the sustained positive impact that he would have hoped for upon his arrival last month.

Nevertheless, four points from three Championship fixtures against Swansea City, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion is hardly a disaster for a team that would settle for survival this season.

A late playoff push is realistically out of the question, the gap standing at 13 points with 17 matches remaining, and Blues could end the weekend in 21st spot if they lose in Yorkshire and other results go against them.

However, Mowbray will perhaps be looking at things most positively, Birmingham having collected seven points from five away league games and having the opportunity to put a 12-point gap between themselves and their next opponents.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:

W

W

L

L

D

L

Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions):

L

L

D

D

L

L

Birmingham City Championship form:

L

D

L

D

W

L

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

L

L

Team News

With two different sides having suffered heavy defeats, Wednesday boss Rohl could provide his starting lineup with a new look on Friday.

Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri may get the nod down the centre of the attack after his goal versus Coventry, while Ian Poveda could be provided with a first start after his switch from Leeds United.

Fellow new arrival Kristian Pedersen is in line to feature at left-back, with Jeff Hendrick an option to return in midfield after his recent injury layoff.

Mowbray may be prepared to keep changes to a minimum after his Birmingham side only lost to West Brom courtesy of an 85th-minute goal.

Jordan James and Alex Pritchard are competing for one place in midfield, while the versatile Juninho Bacuna could be preferred to Lee Buchanan at full-back.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Beadle; Valentin, Ihiekwe, Bernard, Pedersen; Palmer, Bannan; Poveda, Ugbo, Gassama; Cadamarteri

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Etheridge; Laird, Bielik, Long, Bacuna; Dozzell, Sunjic; Miyoshi, Pritchard, Dembele; Stansfield

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Birmingham City

For different reasons, a defeat would pile the pressure on each respective manager, even though they recognise the importance of posting maximum points. With that in mind, and given their respective form, do not be surprised to see a low-scoring draw play out at Hillsborough.

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