Match preview: Owls v Rovers

15 March 2019

After a week that saw the Owls collect four points on the road from trips to Derby and Bolton, Steve Bruce’s side return to Hillsborough on Saturday.

Wednesday picked up a point at Pride Park on Saturday (1-1) before defeating strugglers Bolton in midweek (2-0) at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Those results saw the Owls maintain their impressive run in the Championship that currently stands at ten unbeaten, with seven clean sheets along the way.

Rovers have been on a tough run of form since the start of February and suffered six defeats from seven league outings before defeating Wigan 3-0 in midweek to get back to winning ways.

That run, however, has seen Tony Mowbray’s men slip to 16th in the Championship.

Blackburn came out on top 4-2 against the Owls in the previous meeting earlier this season at Ewood Park.

But an area of concern for Mowbray has been the defensive stats away from home as no Championship club has conceded more away goals than Rovers (38 – level with Hull and Wigan).

Here is swfc.co.uk’s match preview:

Team news

Owls: Lucas Joao (knee) will remain sidelined, while Tottenham loanee Josh Onomah will miss Saturday but could return to action following the international break.

After six appearances from the bench, the Owls boss is considering a place in the starting XI for Sam Winnall, who is working to return to full fitness.

Fernando Forestieri (hamstring) will not feature while Gary Hooper is pencilled in to play in a behind closed doors friendly next week.

Blackburn: Tony Mowbray is set to hand out several late fitness tests with Jack Rodwell and Danny Graham (both hamstring) out to prove their fitness.

Amari'i Bell is doubtful after limping off in the 3-0 win over Wigan, while Charlie Mulgrew (hamstring) may not be fit to return and Darragh Lenihan (knee) remains sidelined.

Pre-match interview - Rolando Aarons

Tickets – Double Discount for Members!

Gold and Silver Adult Members are reminded that Saturday’s league clash is a ‘Double Discount’ fixture.

Members can take advantage of significant savings, with discounts of £10 off matchday ticket prices.

Ticket Office

Please note, due to the imminent Season Ticket deadline, lengthy queues are expected in the Ticket Office.

Supporters are advised to purchased online where possible.

Follow the game live

Subscribers in the UK and overseas can listen live with our iFollow team of Rob O’Neill and John Pearson calling the action.

The game will be streamed on iFollow to overseas subscribers.

Supporters

Supporters are, as always, reminded of their conduct while following the Owls home and away.

This includes behaviour inside and outside of the stadium, the launching of missiles, pyrotechnics, coins or bottles.

Anyone found to be in breach of ground regulations and/or the law, will be met with potential club and legal action.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Parking

Any cars parked illegally in areas surrounding the stadium run the risk of parking tickets.

Please note that traffic wardens are extra vigilant on matchdays.

S6 Foodbank

The Owls are teaming up with S6 Foodbank this Saturday, encouraging supporters to donate what they can to help the local community.

Twin gazebos will be present from midday through to kick-off on the South Stand bridge and across the stadium at the Owls Megastore for fans to bring non-perishable food items.

Last five v Blackburn

2018/19
Blackburn 4-2 Owls | 1 December 2018 | Championship

2016/17
Owls 2-1 Blackburn | 14 February 2017 | Championship
Blackburn 0-1 Owls | 27 September 2016 | Championship

2015/16
Owls 2-1 Blackburn | 5 April 2016 | Championship
Blackburn 2-2 Owls | 28 November 2015 | Championship

Last time out

Match Reports

Report: Owls 4-2 Blackburn

16 March 2019

The Owls extended their unbeaten start under Steve Bruce to 11 games as they beat Blackburn 4-2 at Hillsborough.

Steven Fletcher marked his 100th appearance for the club with an early strike and Atdhe Nuhiu came off the bench in the second half to double the lead.

The Lancashire side created few openings but missed the ones they did until Craig Conway also made an impact as substitute to reduce the arrears.

But Wednesday recovered from that blow and marched back upfield, where Dominic Iorfa and a third substitute, Marco Matias, added to the goalfest.

Blackburn responded with skipper Elliott Bennett pulling another one back but the mountain was too steep to climb and the Owls emerged with the points.

The early throes of an entertaining clash proved bittersweet for Bruce, who saw Sam Hutchinson succumb to injury before his side promptly hit the front.

Hutchinson limped off with what appeared a muscle strain and a minute later on ten, Fletcher entered double figures for the season.

Iorfa played a teasing low cross right into the danger zone and Fletcher was on the spot to side-foot home.

The Owls were in command and both Sam Winnall and Adam Reach were a whisker away from connecting to Rolando Aarons’ low feed.

Reach forced David Raya into a near post save and then Wednesday went closer still, this time Michael Hector headed a Reach cross against the upright.

It was a blistering period of play from the hosts but Rovers crept back into contention, although they had to wait until five minutes before the break to fashion a shot on target.

Bradley Dack picked up possession on the left side of the penalty area, looked up and arrowed a whistling daisycutter goalwards that Keiren Westwood did well to parry clear.

Blackburn carved an even better chance ten minutes into the second half when Joe Rothwell picked out Danny Graham at the back stick but the striker nodded wide of the target.

And the visitors were made to pay for their profligacy as the Owls made it 2-0 on the hour.

Barry Bannan delivered an accurate free kick to the edge of the six-yard box where the advancing Nuhiu headed emphatically past Raya.

Wednesday were back in the ascendancy and Reach tried a speculative shot from almost halfway that sailed narrowly over.

But just as the game appeared to be heading towards a comfortable home win, Blackburn countered and halved the deficit on 72 minutes.

Rothwell broke down the left flank, cut inside and teed up Conway, who gave Westwood no chance with a fierce drive into the far corner.

Any prospects of a comeback, though, were extinguished 11 minutes from the end.

Another Bannan set piece caused problems in the Rovers rearguard and Iorfa was first to react with a hooked volley that flew into the back of the Kop net.

Still there was time for late drama with two goals in the last five minutes.

First, Bannan claimed his third assist of the day, nicely setting up Matias to finish low and hard, although Raya might have done better at his near post.

Blackburn went straight up the other end and pulled another goal back in a flash, with Bennett jinking across the area before slamming past Westwood but it was too little too late for Tony Mowbray’s men.

Wednesday: Westwood, Iorfa, Hector, Lees, Palmer, Reach, Hutchinson (Pelupessy 9), Bannan, Aarons, Winnall (Matias 55), Fletcher (Nuhiu 58)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Owls v Blackburn - ‘Double Discount’ for Members

14 March 2019

Sheffield Wednesday return to Hillsborough on Saturday after back to back away games.

Now unbeaten in ten in the Championship, Blackburn Rovers are next up to face Steve Bruce’s in-form Owls.

Gold and Silver Adult Members are reminded that Saturday’s league clash is a ‘Double Discount’ fixture.

Members can take advantage of significant savings, with discounts of £10 off matchday ticket prices.

An adult ticket on the Kop for Members is priced £23 this weekend.

For full ticket details CLICK HERE.

Wednesday head into the game with just one league defeat in 15 and unbeaten under Steve Bruce.

With three clean sheets from the last four and seven from the last ten, the Owls will be aiming to extend their excellent run against Rovers on Saturday.

CLICK HERE to buy your tickets!

Sheffield Wednesday

Standings

Match preview: Owls v Rovers

Report: Owls 4-2 Blackburn

Owls v Blackburn - ‘Double Discount’ for Members

Ticket details: Owls v Blackburn

Standings

Ticket News

Ticket details: Owls v Blackburn

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