Match preview: Owls v Forest

19 June 2020

The long wait for football to return is over this weekend as Sheffield Wednesday host Nottingham Forest.

It will be the Owls’ first Championship fixture in 105 days due to the Coronavirus pandemic as football in the Championship resumes.

Garry Monk and the squad have had four weeks in various phases back on the training pitches at Middlewood Road and at Hillsborough for practise matches in preparation for the resumption.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the game in our detailed match preview:

iFollow – STAY HOME, TUNE IN!

Sheffield Wednesday are encouraging supporters to stay away and tune in to all remaining 2019/20 matches from home with fans given unprecedented access to live games on Sky Sports and iFollow.

For non-Season Ticket holders, iFollow will be live streaming the remaining fixtures of the 2019/20 campaign with the exception of those selected for Sky Sports coverage.

This weekend’s clash against Forest kick-starts the run-in on iFollow and match passes are available by CLICKING HERE, priced at £10.

For Season Ticket holders who have selected the iFollow bundle, ALL remaining fixtures of the campaign will be streamed on iFollow, including those selected for live Sky Sports broadcast.

For full details, including activating promo codes CLICK HERE.

TEMPORARY RULE CHANGES

Substitutions

The number of substitutes used during a match which will increase from three to five players, with the matchday squad increasing to 20.

• Each team will have a maximum of three opportunities to make substitutions

• If both teams make a substitution at the same time, this will count as one of the three opportunities for each team.

• In a normal 90 minute fixture, once all three opportunities have been used, no further substitutions can be made.

Walkout protocol

• Players and match official entry will be staggered onto the pitch.

• There will be no handshakes. Players to take up on pitch positions in the same half as they warmed up ready for kick off.

Pre-match

NOT TODAY OR ANY DAY

The EFL will stand together in solidarity against racial discrimination through a powerful online video campaign to say we don’t and will not accept prejudice, not today or any day.

Players returning to play this week will take part in the videos that will be issued across multiple platforms, to demand more inclusion, respect and equality and offer support to our colleagues, friends and members of the wider community who continue to be subjected to unacceptable forms of discrimination.

EFL TO TRIBUTE THE NHS

Clubs will come together this weekend to recognise the brave efforts of our NHS key workers who have continued to support our wider communities throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

Players from across the three divisions will wear shirts featuring an ‘NHS Rainbow – Thank You’ emblem and a period of applause will take place prior to all matches

OWLS MEGASTORE

The Owls are reminding supporters that the Ticket Office, Megastore and Meadowhall store remain closed until further notice.

TEAM NEWS

SWFC: Steven Fletcher is available for the Owls after shrugging off a minor injury sustained in training last week.

The club’s top scorer returned to training this week with no problems.

The only injury concerns for Monk are loanee Josh Windass and striker Sam Winnall, who look set to miss out.

Windass will be assessed by the end of the month before a decision is made regarding the extension of his loan from Wigan.

Nottingham Forest: The suspension of football for the past three months has given time for players to return from injury.

Tiago Silva was unavailable before pandemic took hold after suffering appendicitis while fellow midfielder Samba Sow (knee) has not featured since February.

But along with striker Nuno Da Costa, Silva and Sow are available for selection.

FORM

Owls: DWLLL
Forest: DDWDL

TOP SCORERS

Steven Fletcher: 13 goals
Lewis Grabban: 17 goals

LAST MEETING – 14 December 2019

LAST FIVE V FOREST

Forest 0-4 Owls - 14 December 2019 - Championship
Owls 3-0 Forest - 9 April 2019 - Championship
Forest 2-1 Owls – 19 September 2018 – Championship
Forest 0-3 Owls - 26 December 2017 – Championship
Owls 3-1 Forest - 9 September 2017 – Championship

Match Reports

Report: Wednesday 1-1 Nottingham Forest

20 June 2020

The Championship season was back underway at Hillsborough as Wednesday and Nottingham Forest shared the spoils.

Joe Lolley scored in the second half after the Owls had looked by far the more likely to take the points. Time and again they poured forward but only some fine defending and the woodwork kept the game goalless before the visitors struck.

But the hosts were not to be denied and Connor Wickham headed home in stoppage time to salvage a thoroughly deserved draw.

Behind closed doors and beneath the blazing sun, the Owls began brightly, taking the game to the Midlanders.

Barry Bannan was looking dangerous, spreading play to both flanks from the engine room. Bannan started the move that finished with Massimo Luongo firing just wide on the 15-minute mark.

Forest hit back with dangerman Lolley pulling the trigger just inside the penalty area but Dominic Iorfa was perfectly positioned to bravely block.

Back the ball went to the other end where Bannan cleverly slotted Jordan Rhodes in on goal but keeper Brice Samba was off his line swiftly to deal with the danger.

Kieran Lee then got to the byline and fed Wickham at the back post and the striker’s header was cleared by Tobias Figueiredo at close quarters.

Moments later Luongo volleyed inches over the bar as the Owls dominated possession and chances.

Lolley posed the visitors’ chief threat and it was the same player who curled a teasing set piece up and over Joe Wildsmith’s bar.

The break was welcome for Forest, who regrouped and started the second half with more zest.

But it was Wednesday that went close to breaking the deadlock just before the hour. Jacob Murphy crossed from the right and Wickham headed against the post – Lee looked certain to finish the rebound but Joe Worrall somehow prevented the ball going in.

Forest went straight up to the other end and came within a whisker of scoring themselves. Brennan Johnson burst into space down the left and his low cross was just too pacey for the onrushing Lewis Grabban.

But the visitors would make no mistake from their next attack on 70 minutes, when Lolley broke free from the right flank and cut inside to slot calmly across Wildsmith and in.

It was hard on Wednesday, who had done everything but put the ball in the net but they almost went 2-0 down 10 minutes from time.

It was that man Lolley at the heart of the action once more, forcing Wildsmith into a low diving save at his near post.

Then, just as it seemed Forest were taking the points back down the M1, Wednesday struck.

Alessio Da Cruz swung over an accurate corner and Wickham was in the right place at the right time to thump an unstoppable header into the roof of Samba’s net.

Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Börner, Iorfa, Bannan, Luongo (Hunt 83), Harris, Lee (Reach 74), Murphy (Odubajo 68), Rhodes (Fletcher 68, Da Cruz 74), Wickham

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket details: Owls v Nottingham Forest

20 February 2020

Owls v Nottingham Forest
Saturday 14 March 2020 – (3.00pm)
Championship

The Owls’ clash with Nottingham Forest is a 'double discount' fixture for Adult Members.

Ticket prices for this Category D fixture start from £23 for Adult Members and £5 for Under 11 Members on the Kop.

Tickets are currently on sale to Season Ticket holders and Owls Members and will go on general sale on Wednesday 26 February.

Tickets are available to purchase at the Ticket Office, by telephone on 03700 201867 (Option 1, £2 booking fee per ticket) or online at shop.sheffieldwednesday.co.uk.

Kop	Members	Non Members
Adult	£23	£33
Senior/under 21	£13	£23
Student/armed forces	£23	£33
Juniors under 17	£10	£15
Juniors under 11	£5	£10
Junior under 5 (advance sale only)	£5	£5

North/Grandstand	Members	Non Members
Adult	£26	£36
Senior/under 21	£16	£26
Student/armed forces	£26	£36
Juniors under 17	£10	£15
Juniors under 11	£5	£10
Junior under 5 (advance sale only)	£5	£5

South	Members	Non Members
Adult	£29	£39
Senior/under 21	£19	£29
Student/armed forces	£29	£39
Juniors under 17	£10	£15
Juniors under 11	£5	£10
Junior under 5 (advance sale only)	£5	£5

Supporters who attend this game and purchase their tickets in advance under their own ID number will receive 10 Ticket Priority Points.

Standings

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