Match preview: Owls v Cheltenham

7 October 2022

Wednesday v Cheltenham

Saturday 8 October
3:00pm
League One
Hillsborough

THE MATCH

Wednesday will be looking to bounce back after the midweek defeat against Plymouth.

Darren Moore’s side produced a strong performance at Home Park but were hit in stoppage time to go down 2-1.

A home game with Cheltenham is next up for the Owls.

Our visitors this weekend are 14th in the division but that does not reflect their recent strong run of results.

The Robins lost their opening four games of the season, three in League One and one in the Carabao Cup.

Wade Elliott’s side are currently on a three-game winning streak and have lost just one of their last five league outings.

TEAM NEWS

Wednesday: Reece James looks unlikely to be involved on Saturday after sustaining an injury at Plymouth in midweek.

George Byers is rated at 50-50 whether he can play a part at Hillsborough.

Mark McGuinness is closing in on his return and has trained with the squad this week.

Mallik Wilks could also feature.

Cheltenham: Striker Alfie May is ruled out.

The Robins hitman scored 23 goals last season but was stretchered off late in the 2-0 win over Shrewsbury last week.

He is expected to be out of action for a minimum of eight weeks.

MANAGER'S PRE-MATCH MEDIA AS STREAMED LIVE

OFFICIALS

Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Assistant referee 1: Joe Simpson
Assistant referee 2: Oliver Bickle
Fourth official: David Richardson

iFOLLOW

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

Audio match passes in the UK are available HERE.

SUPPORTER CONDUCT

Following recent anti-social behaviour, 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!

The Fan Zone returns this Saturday as normal for our League One clash with Cheltenham.

Both bars will be open for business from midday until 2:45pm pre-match and for an hour after the final whistle.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for the game is #SHWCHE

Our official Twitter account @swfc will provide a blow-by-blow text update of the game, team news at 2:00pm 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!

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

26 Mar 2022 | Owls 4-1 Cheltenham | League One
30 Oct 2021 | Cheltenham 2-2 Owls | League One

RESTART A HEART

Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be in attendance at Hillsborough this weekend to raise awareness of performing CPR on anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest. The players will also be wearing Restart a Heart t-shirts in the pre-match warm-up.

Restart a heart.jpg

BUCKET COLLECTION

Cash for Kids will be holding a bucket collection ahead of the game this weekend. CLICK HERE to learn more of the incredible work carried out by the national charity.

Match Reports

Report: Wednesday 3-0 Cheltenham

8 October 2022

Wednesday shook off the last-gasp disappointment of losing to Plymouth in midweek to beat Cheltenham 3-0 at Hillsborough.

Josh Windass set the ball rolling with an early strike and the points were sealed late on with a two-goal salvo from Barry Bannan and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The Robins found themselves under siege for much of a one-sided contest and their recent run of resistance in League One came to an end.

Windass’ luck was out at Home Park, hitting the woodwork twice, but the forward took only three minutes to find the target.

The Owls won a set piece 25 yards out and Windass stepped up to expertly pick his spot beyond the despairing Luke Southwood.

After Cheltenham responded with skipper Sean Long heading a good chance over the bar, it was one-way traffic.

Lee Gregory - a constant threat to the Robins’ rearguard - Windass and Michael Smith each went close before Liam Palmer went down in the box under a challenge from Will Ferry but the referee was unmoved.

Southwood was relieved to see a Windass long ranger whistle wide but the Owls were given a scare on 37 minutes from a rare Cheltenham attack.

A scramble in the penalty area saw the ball land invitingly for Liam Sercombe, whose low shot was goal-bound until Michael Ihiekwe hooked off the line.

That prompted Wednesday to motor upfield and come within a lick of paint of doubling the lead.

Bannan sent Gregory scampering down the middle with a trademark through-ball and the latter smashed across Southwood but against the post.

Windass blasted over the top following good work down the right by Smith before something of a second half lull as both sides struggled to find real rhythm.

Much of the play was in the engine room, with openings at a premium and the goalkeepers largely untroubled.

That was until 15 minutes from time, though, when Southwood did well to keep out Gregory at his near post from a pinpoint Bannan corner.

The Wednesday skipper then took centre stage and Southwood could do little about the two stunners on 82 and 84 minutes that put the contest to bed.

First, Bannan picked up possession 30 yards out unmarked and took a stride forward before unleashing an unstoppable hit right into the top corner.

Then, with Cheltenham reeling, Bannan teed up substitute Dele-Bashiru with an imperious back heel and the finish from just inside the box was as emphatic as the performance.

Wednesday: Stockdale, Palmer, Ihiekwe, Henighan, Johnson, Vaulks, Bannan, Mighten (Dele-Bashiru 63), Windass, Gregory, Smith (McGuinness 76)