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

At a time when the Owls occupy bottom spot in the standings, the visitors are in fifth place, despite seeing their lengthy undefeated streak ended last time out.

Match preview

Despite the fall-out from the departure of Darren Moore, Sheffield Wednesday appeared to be in a good place on the back of promotion and appointing Xisco as their new head coach.

Instead, the Yorkshire giants are enduring a disastrous campaign, losing six of their eight second-tier fixtures and already sitting four points adrift of safety.

To their credit, draws against Leeds United and Middlesbrough have been recorded in September, and their defeat at home to high-flying Ipswich Town was by a 1-0 scoreline.

However, succumbing 3-0 at fellow winless side Swansea City has left Xisco in a position where he is under fierce pressure to retain his job, supporters wary of falling deeper into trouble.

On a positive note, playing the first fixture of the next matchday provides them with a chance to move to the lofty heights of 22nd place, yet another defeat would leave them at risk of being cut adrift of their relegation rivals even at this early stage.

Meanwhile, Sunderland travel to Hillsborough having seen their five-match unbeaten run ended by a late defeat at home to Cardiff City at the Stadium of Light.

A goalless draw on the back of three victories which had produced 11 goals would have still come as a disappointment, but losing 1-0 to an 87th-minute goal has left Tony Mowbray with much to ponder.

For all of their free-scoring in recent games, Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow has failed to make an impact down the middle of the attack, while the Black Cats have also lost two of their four home fixtures.

Although Sunderland can be satisfied with sitting in fifth place for now, they are already eight points adrift of the top two and seven points away from third, margins which need to be reined in even with less than a fifth of the season gone.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:

L

L

D

L

D

L

Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

D

L

Sunderland Championship form:

W

D

W

W

W

L

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Team News

Xisco will inevitably ring the changes after the defeat to Swansea, Ashley Fletcher seemingly being in line to be restored down the middle of the attack.

Josh Windass is also in line to return, while Tyreeq Bakinson and George Byers are both options in the centre of midfield.

Dominic Iorfa has perhaps been unfortunate to see his game time limited during September, but the experienced defender may be selected in the back three on Friday.

Mowbray could be prepared to bring Luis Semedo back into the Sunderland attack to take the pressure of Burstow, who is yet to last longer than 64 minutes in any of his three starts.

Patrick Roberts is also an option in the final third, although Mowbray is likely to keep faith with much of the team that impressed in the previous away game at Blackburn Rovers.

Pierre Ekwah and Jewison Bennette may be in a position to return to the squad after injury and illness respectively.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Iorfa, Diaby, Famewo; Valentin, Hendrick, Bakinson, Delgado; Buckley, Windass; Fletcher

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Huggins; Neil; Ba, Bellingham, Pritchard, Clarke; Semedo

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Sunderland

With Sheffield Wednesday in desperate need of a win, they will likely go all out for three points on home territory. Nevertheless, that should only play into the hands of the visitors, who we expect to exploit the spaces and show a ruthless streak in the final third.

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