Match preview: Owls v Blades

4 March 2019

The Owls face Sheffield United under the Hillsborough lights and live on Sky Sports on Monday evening (7.45pm).

For Wednesday, the recent unbeaten run has lifted spirits and confidence ahead of the derby.

Steve Bruce’s first month in charge ended with three wins and three draws for the Owls, which has lifted Wednesday up to 12th in the division ahead of the weekend’s round of fixtures.

After three consecutive draws, Wednesday have posted back to back home wins over Swansea and Brentford heading into the Steel City clash.

The Blades are also in strong form and have won their three previous Sky Bet Championship outings, without conceding, leading up to Monday at Hillsborough.

United have lost just one league game in 12 which came back in January's trip to Swansea.

Here is swfc.co.uk’s match preview:

Team news

Owls: Achraf Lazaar (hamstring) is ruled out of Monday’s derby.

The Newcastle loanee pulled up with injury during the first half of the Owls’ 2-0 win over Brentford.

Morgan Fox (back) and Jordan Thorniley (concussion) could also come back into contention.

Elsewhere, there are no fresh injury concerns for Bruce’s side.

Sheffield United: Defender Jack O’Connell has missed the Blades’ last three outings with a hamstring injury but could return to the starting line-up on Monday.

Fellow defenders John Egan and George Baldock are also fit to feature.

Preview - Steve Bruce's pre-match press conference

Tickets

North Stand tickets are now sold out, while limited availability remains on the Kop, South and Grandstand.

Supporters should note there will be no turnstile sales on the day. For supporters booking online, please ensure you are logged in to your account first.

Tickets are available to fans who have been on the SWFC database prior to 1 December 2018.

The Ticket Office is open on Saturday 9.00am-5.00pm, closed on Sunday and open again on Monday from 9.00am until kick-off.

Weston Park Cancer Charity

On Monday the Steel City derby returns to Hillsborough and both teams will be showing support for one of Sheffield’s greatest institutions, Weston Park Cancer Charity.

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 broadcast live on Sky Sports meaning there will be no live stream on iFollow.

Supporters

Fans who leave the stadium via Gate 7, must make their exit underneath the South Stand and over the bridge or via Penistone Road.

Home supporters will not be able to exit via Leppings Lane.

In addition 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.

Last five v Sheffield United

2018/19
Blades 0-0 Owls | 9 November 2018 | Championship

2017/18
Blades 0-0 Owls | 12 January 2018 | Championship
Owls 2-4 Blades | 24 September 2017 | Championship

2011/12
Owls 1-0 Blades | 26 February 2012 | League One
Blades 2-2 Owls | 16 October 2011 | League One

Last time out

Match Reports

Report: Owls 0-0 Blades

4 March 2019

The 131st Steel City derby ended goalless, punctuated with a paucity of openings to break the deadlock.

Indeed, just two of note – one in the first half to Gary Madine and one in the second to Sam Hutchinson.

Neither found its way home and the points were shared on a cold and rainy night at Hillsborough.

The contest calmed into a typically cagey affair after Keiren Westwood came to Wednesday’s rescue just seven minutes in.

Oliver Norwood delivered an inviting cross from the right and ex-Owl Madine planted a firm header goalwards but Westwood spread himself and kept the ball out.

Norwood looked United’s main threat with his accurate deliveries from the wide areas but Wednesday’s rearguard was well organised and resolute.

The visitors had more of the possession but the Owls rarely looked in any danger, although the same could be said of United at the back.

As the rained poured down and conditions became more difficult, so did the quality of play and the first half petered out with no real action of note save Madine’s early header.

The second period saw a half chance for the Blades immediately after the resumption when Billy Sharp just failed to connect on a fizzing Chris Basham feed.

The Owls responded with Rolando Aarons opening his stride down the left and his dangerous cross was deflected to safety.

Then on 65 minutes Wednesday had their own clear sight on goal. Aarons did tremendously well on the break to motor forward and send a super ball to the onrushing Hutchinson, whose shot was parried by Dean Henderson from close range.

The Owls were asking more of the questions but United crept back into proceedings into the closing stages.

Westwood showed all his athleticism to clear a Norwood corner from under his crossbar and Tom Lees’ last-ditch clearance denied the lurking Sharp.

Both sides pressed for that game changing moment at the last but the breakthrough would not arrive and from the blue and white perspective, it was another point gained and the unbeaten start to the Steve Bruce era extended to seven games.

Wednesday: Westwood, Iorfa (Fox 79), Lees, Hector, Palmer, Aarons, Hutchinson, Bannan, Reach, Fletcher (Nuhiu 90), Forestieri (Boyd 46)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Steel City derby ticket update

1 March 2019

The second Steel City derby of the season takes place at Hillsborough on Monday and the Owls are reminding Wednesdayites there will be no turnstile sales on the evening of the game.

North Stand tickets have now sold out, while tickets on the Kop, South and Grandstand remain available but are limited in numbers.

Tickets are on general sale to supporters registered on the SWFC database prior to 1 December 2018.

The Ticket Office is open on Saturday (9.00am until 5.00pm), closed on Sunday and re-opens on Monday (9.00am until kick-off).

Tickets can be purchased online at shop.sheffieldwednesday.co.uk.

Supporters must log in to their SWFC online account to be able to choose seats.

Once logged in, if the ‘choose seats’ option is not available, this is because the account was created after 1 December 2018 and is therefore not valid to purchase tickets for this fixture.

Supporters who buy tickets and opt to collect, can do so from the Ticket Office until 6.30pm on Monday.

After this time, Kop and North Stand tickets can be collected from Gate 18 and South and Grandstand tickets from the South Stand Ticket Office (open from 6.30pm).

The Ticket Office will be extremely busy on Monday with Season Ticket renewals.

Supporters are urged to ensure they have their Season Cards/tickets before heading to the ground to avoid unnecessary queues on the day in the Ticket Office.

Sheffield Wednesday

Standings

Match preview: Owls v Blades

Sheffield derby fixture change

Report: Owls 0-0 Blades

Sheffield derby fixture change

Steel City derby ticket update

Ticket details: Owls v Blades

Standings

Fixture News

Sheffield derby fixture change

Fixture News

Sheffield derby fixture change

Ticket News

Ticket details: Owls v Blades

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