Match Pack - Wednesday v Mansfield

29 August 2023

Wednesday v Mansfield Town
Tuesday 29 August
7:45pm
Carabao Cup Round Two
Hillsborough

THE MATCH

Wednesday are back home this evening in the Carabao Cup for the second round tie with Mansfield.

The Owls left it right until the last in round one to overcome Stockport in S6. A late Tyreeq Bakinson leveller took the game to penalties, where Devis Vasquez was the hero, saving all but one of the spot-kicks.

Mansfield progressed in the first round with a 2-0 home victory over Grimsby.

The Stags have made a bright start to their League Two campaign with two wins and three draws from five, while the Owls are searching for their first Championship points of the season following Saturday’s late setback at Cardiff.

TEAM NEWS

Owls: Momo Diaby is unlikely to feature in tonight’s cup-tie after picking up an injury during his debut at home to Preston.

Mallik Wilks will be assessed ahead of the game and could make his first appearance of the season.

Akin Famewo could also be back in the squad after missing out at Cardiff, while there were no fresh injuries reported following our trip to the Welsh capital.

Mansfield: Ex-Owl Aden Flint will return to Hillsborough with the Stags this evening.

The towering defender joined Mansfield over the summer and has been an ever-present this season so far.

Baily Cargill (hamstring) is a doubt, while Callum Johnson (hamstring), midfielders Aaron Lewis (calf) and Hiram Boateng (groin) will be out for up to six weeks.

Defender Alfie Kilgour will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles at Doncaster earlier this month.

PENALTIES

In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, the tie will go straight to penalties.

ROUND THREE DRAW

The draw for the third round will take place on Wednesday 30 August following Doncaster’s clash with Everton live on Sky Sports and the Sky Go app.

Ties will be played week commencing Monday 25 September when Premier League sides competing in Europe will enter the competition.

TICKETS

The North and South Stand only are open for Wednesdayites, priced £15 adults, £10 seniors and under 21s and £5 under 17s.

There are no cash turnstiles in operation this season and supporters are advised to arrive early to avoid queues.

OFFICIALS

Referee - Sunny Singh Gill
Assistants - Lewis Raper and Matthew Sowerby
Fourth Official - Gavin Ward

iFOLLOW

Live audio commentary from Rob O’Neill and John Pearson is available tonight via iFollow.

Due to broadcast regulations, there will be no live stream of this cup-tie.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for the match is #SHWMAN

Our Twitter/X account @swfc will provide real time updates, with team news at 6:45pm.

Follow us on Instagram for matchday content and subscribe and turn on notifications for our YouTube channel, where you can view extended match highlights.

LOVE FOOTBALL, PROTECT THE GAME

The EFL, Premier League, FA, FSA, PGMOL, LMA and PFA have come together this season to implement a series of measures to address behaviour across the game.

This includes new policies, procedures, and regulations to eradicate unacceptable conduct on the pitch, on the sidelines and in the stands.

The new measures build on the work launched last season to combat dangerous and illegal fan behaviour, supported by the ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ football-wide campaign.

CLICK HERE for full details.

We are also reinforcing the importance of all supporters staying within EFL Ground Regulations, which can be found HERE

Match Previews

Match Reports

Owls beaten by Mansfield on penalties

29 August 2023

Wednesday were knocked out of the Carabao Cup 5-4 on penalties after being held by Mansfield in normal time at Hillsborough.

A late leveller from substitute Rhys Oates took the tie to spot-kicks following Anthony Musaba’s first goal in Wednesday colours.

And but for a splendid performance by Christy Pym in the Stags goal, the hosts would have been out of sight.

Pym pulled off a string of fine saves to keep Mansfield in the contest before denying Liam Palmer in the shootout to cap a memorable night between the sticks.

Earlier, it was all Wednesday from the off, with Callum Paterson, Josh Windass and Ashley Fletcher each calling Pym into action.

Barry Bannan thumped over from distance as the visitors were overrun all over the pitch and the skipper was typically influential in the opening goal on 28 minutes.

Bannan played a delightful ball over the top for Windass, whose cross was nodded back across goal by Paterson to Musaba and the Dutchman headed home from close range.

Mansfield were pinned into their own half and only a lick of paint prevented Wednesday taking a 2-0 lead into the break.

Great work down the right by Pol Valentin – impressive throughout – saw the new recruit tee up Windass and the latter unleased a thunderous hit that crashed against the crossbar.

The Owls went close again straight after the restart when Pym somehow kept out Michael Ihiekwe’s glancing header before the keeper beat out a Windass drive moments later.

The visitors, though, started to show signs of recovery, evidenced by nimble footwork and a blistering shot from Jordan Bowery that flew over the crossbar.

The Stags certainly upped the ante compared to their first half display, enjoying plenty of the ball, albeit without troubling Cameron Dawson.

Xisco threw on Michael Smith and Lee Gregory and the move almost paid dividends in the closing stages.

Gregory found Smith down the right, the cross to the back stick was perfect for the onrushing Juan Delgado, whose firm header was expertly palmed onto the post by Pym.

And that proved a foundation for the equaliser with five minutes to go. Oates took possession 25 yards out on the angle and advanced to drill a fine effort into the far corner to stun the Owls.

So to penalties the tie went and when Dawson saved from Will Swift, it was advantage Wednesday.

But Pym stopped Will Vaulks, leading to sudden death. Ex-Owl Aden Flint netted, Pym kept out Palmer and Mansfield advanced to round three.

Wednesday: Dawson, Valentin (Palmer 80), Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Famewo, Paterson (Delgado 64), Bannan, Bakinson (Vaulks 80), Musaba (Gregory 71) , Windass, Fletcher (Smith 71)