Match preview: Owls v Cardiff

27 December 2019

Wednesday’s unbeaten run in the Championship came to an end on Boxing Day at Stoke but manager Garry Monk says he expects a strong response on Sunday at Hillsborough.

It was the Owls’ first defeat in seven outings having previously won four of their last five games.

Monk’s side head into the final game of the decade in good shape with 39 points from 24 games and fourth in the Championship.

Wednesday are unbeaten in their last eight at Hillsborough.

Cardiff are without a win in the last four but have proven a tough nut to crack with three draws from their last three fixtures, including a dramatic six-goal thriller away at Leeds which saw them comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3.

Since then, Cardiff have drawn with Preston (0-0) and Millwall (1-1) and will arrive at Hillsborough 11th in the table with 34 points.

Team news

SWFC: Steven Fletcher (illness) has missed the Owls’ previous two fixtures against Bristol City and Stoke.

The Owls top scorer will be assessed ahead of the clash with Cardiff.

Keiren Westwood (shoulder) did not travel to Stoke on Boxing Day and will also be monitored ahead of the game.

Massimo Luongo was substituted early in the second half after picking up a knock from a challenge with Stoke’s Sam Clucas but is expected to be fit to face the Bluebirds.

Sam Hutchinson returned from suspension for the trip to Stoke but started on the bench and will be pushing for a place back in the starting XI.

Fernando Forestieri (knee) remains sidelined.

Cardiff: Lee Peltier is a big concern for the Bluebirds on Sunday.

The defender pulled up with injury on Boxing Day in the 1-1 draw with Millwall.

Peltier was replaced one minute before the interval with Jazz Richards.

Junior Hoilett (hamstring) and Joe Bennett (Achilles) both recovered in time for the clash with the Lions and are likely to feature at Hillsborough.

Championship form

Owls: WDWWL
Cardiff: WLDDD

Top scorers

Steven Fletcher: 12 goals
Joe Ralls/Danny Ward: 5 goals

Tickets

Tickets for this Category D fixture start from £28 for Adult Owls Members on the Kop and £5 for all Under 17s in any stand.

Safety

Sheffield Wednesday are reminding supporters of their conduct whilst following the team both at Hillsborough and away from home.

The launching of missiles from the stands, including pyrotechnics, are criminal offences and the club have a zero-tolerance policy to these.

iFollow

iFollow commentary will be brought to you by Rob O’Neill and John Pearson.

Overseas

Supporters overseas can watch the game live with enhanced multi-camera coverage for the 2019/20 season.

To purchase your match pass click here.

Last meeting - 18 October 2019

Last five v Cardiff

Cardiff 1-1 Owls – 18 October 2019 – Championship
Owls 0-0 Cardiff – 20 January 2018 – Championship
Cardiff 1-1 Owls – 16 September 2017 – Championship
Owls 1-0 Cardiff – 14 April 2017 – Championship (pictured)
Cardiff 1-1 Owls – 19 October 2016 – Championship

Match Reports

Report: Wednesday 1-2 Cardiff

29 December 2019

An early two-goal salvo from Robert Glatzel and Junior Hoilett earned Cardiff victory as the Owls gave themselves just too much to do at Hillsborough.

Tom Lees put them on the right course with his second strike in as many games but the mountain was too high against a City side largely content to sit on their advantage.

Prior to going 2-0 down, the Owls had actually looked the more likely as they began on the front foot.

But the visitors hit a quickfire double to assume immediate control when first, on five minutes, Glatzel pounced on a loose ball 12 yards out and calmly found the bottom corner.

Then only three minutes later Lee Tomlin darted down the right flank and looked up to find the advancing Hoilett, who made no mistake with a low arrowed drive.

But the shellshocked Owls responded well and twice came close to halving the arrears. Sam Winnall had a snapshot blocked by Jazz Richards before Neil Etheridge superbly diverted a Barry Bannan curler over the crossbar.

And on 18 minutes it was 2-1 as Wednesday were deservedly back in the game. Bannan swung a deep corner to the back post, where Lees climbed high to head emphatically past Etheridge.

The goal sparked the hosts forward and they bossed possession for the remainder of the first half.

With a little fortune, they may have gone down the tunnel on level terms too, as an almighty goalmouth scramble somehow saw Cardiff clear their lines after Dominic Iorfa and Lees each went close.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Wednesday in the ascendancy and the Bluebirds, with a rigid backline, out to frustrate.

Adam Reach almost unlocked the door with a dipping shot from distance and Etheridge dived to deny Jacob Murphy.

The Bluebirds were limited to counter attacks and one such move saw Marlon Pack drill inches past the post.

It was all Wednesday in the closing stages but the home side could not find a way through and they were left to rue a nightmare start that led to a fruitless finish.

Wednesday: Dawson, Palmer (Börner 63), Iorfa (Rhodes 58), Lees, Fox, Reach, Harris, Bannan, Hutchinson, Murphy (Nuhiu 79), Winnall

Match Reports

Ticket News

Back the Owls for the final time this decade!

28 December 2019

The Owls are back at Hillsborough for the second successive Sunday as Garry Monk’s side take on Cardiff (3.00pm) in the final game of the decade!

Tickets start from £33 for Non Members and £28 for Members, while all Junior under 17 tickets are just £5.

The Ticket Office is open until 5.00pm on Saturday and from 10.00am until kick-off on matchday.

Tickets can also be purchased online 24/7 at shop.sheffieldwednesday.co.uk until 1.30pm on the day of the game.

Ticket collections on Sunday:

Supporters who opt to collect their pre-paid tickets can do so from the Ticket Office until 1.30pm on the day of the game.

After this time, tickets for the Kop can be collected from Gate 18, while South and Grandstand tickets can be collected form the South Stand Ticket Office which also opens at 1.30pm.

Thank you for your support!

Ticket News

Sheffield Wednesday

Standings

Match preview: Owls v Cardiff

Report: Wednesday 1-2 Cardiff

Back the Owls for the final time this decade!

Ticket details: Owls v Cardiff

Standings

Ticket News

Ticket details: Owls v Cardiff

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