Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Fleetwood Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts came out on top in that contest to remain second in England's third tier and saw their scheduled trip to Cheltenham Town postponed on Tuesday, while their visitors were in action after their defeat in South Yorkshire and lost 2-0 to Portsmouth in midweek.

Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday will come into the FA Cup fourth round in high spirits, having taken on Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United in the previous round after getting past Morecambe and Mansfield Town, with all of their ties thus far having come at Hillsborough.

Darren Moore's side took a surprise lead against the Magpies through Josh Windass, and he would make it 2-0 before the Owls stood strong to see out a memorable 2-1 victory and advance to the fourth round after Bruno Guimaraes pulled one back for their visitors 20 minutes from time.

They also head into the weekend in fine form on the league front, having recently climbed into the automatic promotion spots in England's third tier thanks to a 15-match unbeaten run and five straight victories, while their streak without a defeat in any competition dates back to a penalty shootout loss to Premier League outfit Southampton in the EFL Cup.

After leaping into the top two in League One with a 5-0 thrashing of Cambridge United after the turn of the year, Moore's side continued their impressive run with a 1-0 triumph away at Wycombe Wanderers, thanks to a Will Vaulks screamer from long range, before beating Saturday's opponents by the same scoreline last weekend, with Marvin Johnson's 17th-minute goal making the difference in South Yorkshire, after they also triumphed over the Cod Army away from home on Boxing Day in a 2-1 victory.

Now on the back of the postponement of their trip to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening, the Owls will return to action this weekend with the aim of making it seven straight victories in all competitions and advancing to the final 16 of the FA Cup for a third time in the last six seasons.

They meet a Fleetwood Town side who will aim to avenge last weekend's defeat and triumph over the team who have beaten them twice in League One since Christmas.

Scott Brown's side began their FA Cup journey in the first round with a home tie against Oxford City and won 3-1 before beating Ebbsfleet United 1-0 away from home to book a tough contest at home to second-tier Queens Park Rangers after the turn of the year.

Heading into that tie in a mixed run of league form, The Cod Army would prevail somewhat against the odds, despite going 1-0 down in the first half, as Aristote Nsiala quickly levelled the scores before Promise Omochere netted the winner 23 minutes from time at Highbury.

Brown's men have disappointingly been unable to build on that since, though, and now come into the weekend on the back of three straight league defeats, firstly falling short against Oxford United and the Owls before they were beaten 2-0 at home to Portsmouth on Tuesday with Colby Bishop and Joe Pigott getting on the scoresheet.

Now hoping to continue their longest ever run in this competition, Fleetwood will by vying to get back to winning ways and topple Darren Moore's side at the third time of asking on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup form:

W

W

W

Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Fleetwood Town FA Cup form:

W

W

W

Fleetwood Town form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

L

L

Team News

Sheffield Wednesday are unlikely to make many changes to the team that got the better of Fleetwood last weekend, with key midfielders Barry Bannan and George Byers likely remaining sidelined by injuries alongside defenders Ben Heneghan, Reece James and Michael Ihiekwe.

Given those absences, and the loss of centre-back Mark McGuinness back to parent club Cardiff City, Akin Famewo should again join Dominic Iorfa and Liam Palmer in a back three with Dennis Adeniran vying to keep his place alongside Will Vaulks in the engine room amidst competition from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Tyreeq Bakinson.

Josh Windass will again play a key role in the front line, having scored 11 goals and provided five assists for the Owls in all competitions so far this season, while Michael Smith has found the net 10 times and should continue to lead the line with additional support from experienced striker Lee Gregory.

Fleetwood could again be without winger and top scorer Carlos Mendes Gomes, after the Luton Town loanee was absent from the squad for their defeats to the Owls and Portsmouth in the last week.

There is still competition for attacking spots, though, and Promise Omochere is likely to keep his place on one flank while Cian Hayes is vying to come back in from the outset after Phoenix Patterson was preferred in the front three on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Lewis Warrington and Josh Vela continue to play key roles in the engine room, while Aristote Nsiala will again be joined by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu at the heart of the back four.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Dawson; Palmer, Iorfa, Famewo; Hunt, Dele-Bashiru, Vaulks, Johnson; Windass; Gregory, Smith

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Johnston, Nsiala, Sarpong-Wiredu, Earl; Warrington, Vela, Robertson; Omochere, Muskwe, Hayes

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Fleetwood Town

Previews by email