Match preview: Owls v Cheltenham

25 March 2022

MATCH DETAILS

Sheffield Wednesday v Cheltenham Town
Saturday 26 March
3:00pm
Sky Bet League One
Hillsborough

The Owls’ clash with Cheltenham is one of only six fixtures taking place in League One this weekend.

For Wednesday, a return to winning ways would see Darren Moore’s side jump back into the top six.

Our visitors on Saturday have been in good form of late with three wins from their previous five outings, though Michael Duff’s men slipped to a 2-0 defeat in midweek at Plymouth.

Firmly at the business end of the campaign, back-to-back home fixtures represents a big opportunity for the Owls. Wednesday have been strong on home soil over the course of the season so far with 12 wins, five draws and just two defeats.

Cheltenham look poised for a mid-table finish having won promotion from League Two in 2020/21 as champions and quickly finding their feet in the third tier.

The bulk of their points have come on home soil where Cheltenham have posted nine wins, six draws and five defeats. Away from home, the record sheet reads three wins, eight draws and eight losses.

Our corresponding fixture with Cheltenham at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium finished 2-2 in late October.

TEAM NEWS

Wednesday: Bailey Peacock-Farrell is available for selection. The shot-stopper was called up for Northern Ireland last week ahead of their friendlies with Luxembourg and Hungary, but will not travel to the former, remaining in contention for the Owls this weekend.

Saido Berahino is on international duty with Burundi, who face Bahrain on Saturday.

Josh Windass has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation programme and will be assessed in the coming days. Liam Palmer and Lewis Gibson also miss out through injury.

Barry Bannan (299) and Sam Hutchinson (199) are both one match away from SWFC milestone appearances.

Cheltenham: Striker George Lloyd could be available to feature from the start after returning from injury in his side’s 2-0 defeat at Plymouth on Tuesday.

Midfielder Ellis Chapman also made his return to action in midweek following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Dan N’Lundulu, on loan from Southampton, remains sidelined after being withdrawn in the first half of the Town’s draw with Wigan back in January.

N’Lundulu is joined in the physio’s room by Ben Williams who is out for at least the next couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.

OFFICIALS

Referee – Leigh Doughty
Assistant referee – Jonathan Hunt
Assistant referee – Steven Meredith
Fourth official – Darren Drysdale

iFOLLOW

Live match commentary will be provided by iFollow, while the game will be streamed live overseas.

Audio match passes in the UK are available HERE.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME – available in and around the ground tomorrow, priced £3!

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for our content relative to tonight’s game is #SHWCHE

Our official Twitter account @swfc will provide a blow-by-blow text update of the game as well as all key match information, including team news at 2.00pm.

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

The key news will also be uploaded to our Facebook page HERE.

FORM GUIDE

Owls: WLWDD
Cheltenham: WLWWL

LAST MEETING

30 Oct 2021 | Cheltenham 2-2 Owls | League One

Match Reports

Report: Wednesday 4-1 Cheltenham

26 March 2022

Wednesday came from behind to overcome a gallant Cheltenham 4-1 at Hillsborough and climb back into the top six.

Alfie May gave the Owls an early scare but Darren Moore’s men recovered swiftly and went on to post a convincing S6 success.

After Massimo Luongo promptly levelled, Wednesday dominated and further goals from Lee Gregory, Jack Hunt and George Byers put the contest to bed.

An explosive opening punctuated what proved an entertaining contest, with two goals inside the first seven minutes.

The visitors struck first through leading marksman May. The Town dangerman advanced menacingly on the angle inside the box and his looped effort dropped high into the net with the aid of a deflection from Jordan Storey.

But Wednesday hit straight back and equalised in quickfire fashion. Barry Bannan swung in a dangerous corner that landed in the direction of Luongo, who swivelled acrobatically to hook past Owen Evans.

Having reset their game, the Owls saw much more of the ball, attacking at will, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was a whisker away from converting a low Gregory cross.

Evans then somehow kept out a Marvin Johnson snapshot before Gregory twice went close.

But Cheltenham hung on in there to the break, after which it was more of the same.

Wednesday motored forward in numbers, pushing Cheltenham further on the back foot.

And the pressure told on 58 minutes. A bouncing ball fell invitingly for Gregory 20 yards out and the striker’s execution was precise to leave the diving Evans helpless.

But Town were far from finished and spurned a golden opportunity to level just past the hour.

May found space down the left of the penalty area and squared for George Lloyd, who seemed favourite to score. But Bailey Peacock-Farrell leapt to smother superbly and the chance was gone.

But still there was more from Cheltenham, who were hugely unlucky moments later. Elliott Bonds took sight from range and his shot was true but cannoned back into play from the frame of the goal.

Harlee Dean then thwarted May with a perfectly-timed tackle, which proved crucial as Wednesday went on to make the points safe through Hunt on 84 minutes.

Johnson crossed deep and Hunt picked his spot on the volley to claim his maiden goal in Owls colours.

Still there was time for the hosts to ice the cake with three minutes to go. Luongo’s sweeping crossfield ball found Byers, who evaded two challenges to keep his calm before slamming into the Kop net.

Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell, Hunt, Storey (Iorfa 83), Dean, Hutchinson, Johnson, Luongo, Byers, Bannan, Mendez-Laing (Sow 65), Gregory (Paterson 88)