Match preview: Owls v Norwich

12 March 2021

Sheffield Wednesday host league leaders Norwich on Sunday at Hillsborough.

The fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sports at 12:15pm.

The Canaries head to Hillsborough in outstanding form with seven straight league wins and a healthy cushion in top spot – 10 points clear of Watford and Swansea ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.

The odds are stacked against the Owls, who are looking to halt the run of six straight losses.

But new boss Darren Moore has enjoyed and taken plenty from his first full week on the training ground with his squad.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game:

MATCH DETAILS

Date: Sunday 14 March
Kick-off: 12.15pm
Championship
Hillsborough

OFFICIALS

Referee - Tony Harrington
Assistant Referee 1 - Daniel Leach
Assistant Referee 2 - Richard Wild
Fourth Official - Jeremy Simpson

LIVE BROADCAST

Supporters should note that as this fixture is televised live by Sky Sports, there is no standard iFollow coverage.

Audio passes only are available priced £2.50, with our usual duo of Rob O’Neill and John Pearson behind the mics at Hillsborough.

FOLLOW THE GAME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Our official Twitter account @swfc will provide a blow-by-blow text update of the game, as well as posting key information from the fixture, including team news at 11.15am.

Our official Instagram @swfcofficial will also keep you up to date on the latest events and content uploaded to the story throughout the day.

THE MANAGER: Darren Moore

💬 DM: This week has allowed us to lift our heads and get on the grass with the players. It has given me a greater understanding of the group.

It has been good to put on sessions asking questions of us all#swfc pic.twitter.com/6lr4ZQ8uCz
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) March 12, 2021

TEAM NEWS

Owls: Keiren Westwood (rib) and Andre Green (Achilles) are back in training, though the weekend fixture will come too soon for the duo.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (ankle) is expected to return to training next week.

Julian Börner serves a one-match suspension after his red card at Reading last Saturday.

Joost van Aken is back out running on the training ground, while Massimo Luongo and Moses Odubajo remain sidelined.

Norwich: Adam Idah (hernia) will be unavailable for Sunday's game.

A late decision will be made on Ben Gibson, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury.

Marco Stiepermann and Orjan Nyland are back available for selection, while long term absentees Michael McGovern and Sam Byram will not feature.

FORM GUIDE

Owls: LLLLL
Norwich: WWWWW

LAST FIVE v Norwich

Norwich 2-1 Owls – 5 December 2020 – Championship
Norwich 2-2 Owls – 19 April 2019 – Championship
Owls 0-4 Norwich – 3 November 2018 – Championship
Owls 5-1 Norwich – 6 May 2018 – Championship
Norwich 3-1 Owls – 9 December 2017 – Championship

Match Reports

Report: Wednesday 1-2 Norwich

14 March 2021

After taking an early lead against Norwich, Wednesday eventually succumbed to the league leaders by the odd goal in three.

Former Canaries loanee Jordan Rhodes opened the scoring but the visitors flexed their promotion muscle by striking twice in the second half through Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell.

On another day the points may have stayed in S6 but Norwich are Premier League bound for a reason and not least their two goals of the highest quality that left the Owls deep in the relegation mire.

It was an explosive start at Hillsborough as the Canaries might have found themselves down to 10 men before going down 1-0.

Ben Gibson impeded Josh Windass as the latter was through on goal but the colour of the card was yellow, much to the visitors’ relief.

However, that was short-lived as Wednesday hit the front from the resulting free kick six minutes in.

Barry Bannan’s effort was charged down, so too was a shot from Joey Pelupessy, but the rebound fell kindly to Rhodes, who slotted home past Tim Krul.

Norwich responded with Lukas Rupp bringing the returning Keiren Westwood into action before Adam Reach and Kadeem Harris did likewise with Krul at the other end.

Tom Lees got a crucial block to a Pukki shot from close range as Norwich sought a swift route back but the Owls were playing well, stroking the ball around with confidence.

Indeed, the first half belonged to Wednesday and the challenge was to maintain those levels after the break.

But Norwich started the second half on the front foot – Cantwell blazed over the bar following a period of pressure – as the Owls struggled to leave their own half.

And right on the hour, the hard work paid off as Pukki levelled. The Finland striker showed superb composure and craft, taking possession on the angle inside the penalty area before looking up to unleash an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

The ever-dangerous Pukki swivelled to shoot narrowly past the post just after the restart, although Wednesday were not finished, as evidenced when Windass broke at pace but was off target from the edge of the box.

But the contest reverted to type with 13 minutes to go when Cantwell delightfully fashioned the winner.

In a similar position to Pukki for the equaliser, the finish was equally unerring as the midfielder curled a real beauty beyond Westwood and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Wednesday: Westwood, Harris, Lees, Hutchinson, Urhoghide, Palmer, Reach, Bannan, Pelupessy, Windass (Paterson 85), Rhodes (Marriott 68)