Sheff Wedsvs.Leeds

The visitors have drawn both of their first two outings this term, while their hosts sit on three points following a resounding victory and a heavy defeat.

Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday return to Hillsborough on Friday aiming to bounce back from a heavy setback last weekend, having travelled to Sunderland after making a dream start to their Championship campaign.

After escaping the threat of the drop in eye-catching fashion last time around, the Owls headed into a first full season under the management of Danny Rohl with plenty of optimism, and they only added to that with a 4-0 beating of Plymouth Argyle in South Yorkshire on the opening day.

Jamal Lowe, Josh Windass and Michael Smith got on the scoresheet alongside a Brendan Galloway own goal in that contest, and then following a 2-1 EFL Cup victory away at Hull City, thanks to Charlie McNeill's brace, they set out to make it back-to-back league victories to start the season in a tough trip to the Stadium of Light.

The Owls were unable to do so, though, instead succumbing to a 4-0 beating of their own, as Dennis Cirkin, Eliezer Mayenda and Luke O'Nien had Sunderland 3-0 up in the first half-hour before Mayenda added his second and the hosts' fourth at the beginning of the second half.

With their schedule certainly not getting much easier, Sheffield Wednesday will now bid to put that disappointment behind them and get back to winning ways with a first victory over their Yorkshire rivals since 2020.

Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip to South Yorkshire in search of a first three-point haul of the campaign after a slow start.

Leeds United fell agonisingly short of making an immediate return to the Premier League under the tutelage of Daniel Farke last season, finishing third on 90 points and suffering a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the playoff final at Wembley, setting their sights on a promotion bid in the 2024-25 term as a result.

In the midst of a tough period of high-profile departures following that unsuccessful playoff campaign, the Whites have not been quick off the mark, firstly coming from behind to take a point from a 3-3 draw at home to newly-promoted Portsmouth in their curtain-raiser as Brenden Aaronson equalised in the 95th minute after Pascal Struijk and Willy Gnonto previously had them level at two goals apiece.

Then following a 3-0 beating to Middlesbrough at Elland Road in the EFL Cup first round, Farke's men travelled to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and again left with a share of the spoils as the contest ended goalless.

With the departure of Georginio Rutter having followed that defeat, albeit with the Frenchman having not featured at the weekend, Leeds United travel to Hillsborough amid a tough period and will be desperate to kickstart their season on the pitch with a victory in Friday's Yorkshire derby to move onto five points from three outings.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:

W

L

Sheffield Wednesday form (all competitions):

W

W

L

Leeds United Championship form:

D

D

Leeds United form (all competitions):

D

L

D

Team News

Sheffield Wednesday should head into Friday's meeting with a clean bill of health, other than injured goalkeeper Ben Hamer, and Danny Rohl may opt to make several changes to the starting XI which lost 4-0 at Sunderland last time out.

Ike Ugbo may earn a first start in attack since making his loan switch from Troyes permanent over the summer, taking the place of fellow summer arrival Jamal Lowe up top, while Josh Windass may also drop out if Rohl opts to strengthen his Owls side in the centre with the addition of Liam Palmer alongside Barry Bannan and Svante Ingelsson.

Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama should continue on the wings despite competition for spots from Charlie McNeill and Olaf Kobacki, while Dominic Iorfa and Di'Shon Bernard will hope to again partner up at the heart of a back four despite the heavy defeat last weekend.

Daniel Farke has a full Leeds United squad to pick from on Friday, albeit one which has been badly hit over the summer with Georginio Rutter joining Crysencio Summerville, Glen Kamara and Archie Gray, all of whom played key roles last season, in departing the club.

With the Whites yet to bolster their attacking options in the transfer market, Brenden Aaronson may come in from the outset in a 4-2-3-1 shape, likely joining Willy Gnonto and Daniel James in a supporting trio behind a lone striker, with Mateo Joseph, Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe competing to lead the line.

Summer arrival Joe Rothwell may again have to settle for a substitute appearance with Ilia Gruev and captain Ethan Ampadu being preferred in the engine room, while Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo are bound to line up in an unaltered back four.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Beadle; Valery, Iorfa, Bernard, Lowe; Ingelsson, Palmer; Gassama, Bannan, Musaba; Ugbo

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Gruev, Ampadu; James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Bamford

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Leeds United

While Leeds United certainly still boast plenty of quality in their ranks despite their extensive summer departures, Sheffield Wednesday arguably meet them at a favourable time with Daniel Farke's side yet to kick into gear this season.

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