Match preview: Owls v Bristol Rovers

26 October 2022

Wednesday v Bristol Rovers

Wednesday 26 October
8:00pm
League One
Hillsborough

THE MATCH

Two form sides go head to head at Hillsborough on Wednesday night in front of the Sky Sports live TV cameras.

For the Owls, it’s a two-game week on home soil with Bristol Rovers up first followed by Burton on Saturday.

Our form both home and away has been strong this season.

At Hillsborough, we have a record of four wins, two draws and just one defeat and are the joint highest scorers at home.

The Owls have hit the back of the net 17 times from seven games in S6 - a league high at home along with Peterborough.

Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, have made great strides in League One of late under manager Joey Barton.

The Gas come to Hillsborough unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions and with three wins from four in League One.

Rovers fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with league leaders Plymouth on Saturday to continue their recent run of resistance.

TEAM NEWS

Wednesday: Ben Heneghan was forced to withdraw early at the weekend in our draw at Lincoln and could miss the Rovers clash.

The defender stayed down after a coming together with Imps forward Ben House and was replaced by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, prompting a change of shape for the Owls at the LNER Stadium.

Mark McGuinness is back to full fitness and is in line to maintain his place in the starting XI.

Having made appearances from the bench on our previous two league outings at Cambridge and Lincoln, George Byers will be pushing for a recall to the starting line-up.

Bristol Rovers: Midfielder Paul Coutts is set for a stint on the sidelines after injuring his ankle during a training match last week.

The former Sheffield United man has been key to Rovers’ excellent run of form of late but is set for a period of weeks out of action.

Striker John Marquis (knee) and defender James Connolly (back) are doubts for the S6 trip.

LIGHT SHOW

Supporters will see a first glimpse of our newly installed stadium lights in full flow!

The light show will illuminate the stadium as the players emerge from the tunnel before kick-off.

Due to the speed and frequency of the light intermittence, we strongly advise anyone with a photosensitive disorder to show caution before entering the ground.

Full details HERE.

OFFICIALS

Referee: Oliver Langford
Assistant referee 1: Adam Crysell
Assistant referee 2: James Wilson
Fourth official: Martin Coy

iFOLLOW

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

Audio match passes in the UK are available HERE.

SUPPORTER CONDUCT

Following anti-social behaviour this season, we are reinforcing the importance of all supporters staying within EFL Ground Regulations, which can be found HERE

Under the banner of ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ the FA, Premier League and EFL have together introduced new measures and stronger sanctions across the game to tackle the increased anti-social and criminal behaviours recently seen within football grounds. Find out more HERE

VISIT OUR FAN ZONE!

Our Fan Zone will open from 5:00pm until 7:45pm on Wednesday night.

Local singer Graham Lindley will be performing from 6:30pm!

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for the game is #SHWBRO

Our official Twitter account @swfc will provide a blow-by-blow text update of the game, team news at 7:00pm and all the key news from Hillsborough.

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

Why not also follow us on Facebook and Tik Tok!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for extended match highlights.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Wednesday 1-1 Bristol Rovers

26 October 2022

For the second game running, Wednesday were pegged back and frustrated as Bristol Rovers earned a point at Hillsborough.

Michael Smith gave the Owls the lead on the stroke of half time but Rovers hit back after the break through Josh Coburn.

And just as they did at Lincoln on Saturday, Darren Moore’s men enjoyed significant chunks of dominance but again had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Right from the start the hosts were on the front foot, with Barry Bannan typically at the heart.

The skipper stood up a cross for Josh Windass to test James Belshaw in the opening minute as the Owls took early control.

Time and again the Pirates’ goal was under siege. Liam Palmer did well down the right to feed Marvin Johnson at the back post but the shot was narrowly off target, then Belshaw pulled a save from the top drawer to deny the menacing Windass.

In-form Rovers were far from out of it, though, and issued a reminder of their impressive recent pedigree when Aaron Collins burst in on goal only for David Stockdale to put up the shutters.

The tempo went down a notch but in a flash it could quite feasibly have been 1-1 in the space of a minute.

At one end, Belshaw saved James Gibbons’ blushes as the defender almost turned a teasing Bannan cross into his own net.

Rovers promptly countered and Stockdale got the merest of touches to tip Coburn’s angled drive past the post.

The game reverted to type with Wednesday on top and they finally got their reward in first half stoppage time.

George Byers powered forward, looked up to spy Smith on the charge, and the big man glanced an unstoppable header past Belshaw.

Wednesday carried their momentum into the second half and Belshaw had to be alert to expertly divert Lee Gregory’s instinctive hit over the bar.

Windass found room in a congested area to take a cute Bannan ball into his stride but couldn’t adjust his feet to get a true connection.

Then from nowhere, the visitors levelled on the hour. Antony Evans delivered a fine through-ball to the advancing Coburn, who clipped neatly over Stockdale and into the far corner.

The smarting Owls motored forward - Johnson and Bannan had half chances, Windass might have earned a penalty on another day after tangling with Bobby Thomas and ex-Owl Lewis Gibson stretched to take another Bannan feed off the toe of Smith six yards out.

Darren Moore introduced Mallik Wilks and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to bolster the final third and his side dominated as the clock ticked down.

Belshaw spectacularly tipped a Smith header over the bar with two minutes to go following an inviting deep cross from Johnson.

Rovers were pinned in their own half and could do little but eye the finish line but then could have stolen victory right at the last through Collins, whose powerful low drive was crucially kept out by Stockdale.

Wednesday: Stockdale, Palmer, McGuinness, Ihiekwe, Brown (Wilks 68), Byers, Bannan, Johnson, Windass, Gregory (Dele-Bashiru 79), Smith

Match Reports

Ticket News

Ticket details: Owls v Bristol Rovers

12 October 2022

Owls v Bristol Rovers
Wednesday 26 October – (8:00pm)
SkyBet League One

Tickets for this Category C fixture start from £19 for Adult Owls Members and £5 for Under 11 Members on the Kop.

Tickets are now on general sale and available to purchase at the Ticket Office, by telephone on 03700 20 1867 (Option 1 - £2 booking fee per ticket) or online HERE.

Prices

Kop	Members	Non Members
Adults	£19	£22
Seniors/Under 21s	£9	£12
Students & Armed Forces	£9	£22
Junior U17s	£7	£12
Junior U11s	£5	£10
Junior U5s (advance sale only)	£5	£5
North/Grandstand	Members	Non Members
Adults	£22	£25
Seniors/Under 21s	£12	£15
Students & Armed Forces	£12	£25
Junior U17s	£10	£15
Junior U11s	£5	£10
Junior U5s (advance sale only)	£5	£5
South	Members	Non Members
Adults	£25	£28
Senior/Under 21s	£15	£18
Students & Armed Forces	£15	£28
Junior U17s	£10	£15
Junior U11s	£5	£10
Junior U5s (advance sale only)	£5	£5