A game with goals – Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough face off for 113th time as fight for Championship survival reaches its climax

There have been 112 meetings between the two sides since they first faced off back in 1895 (a 6-1 Wednesday win in the FA Cup), and just three of those games have ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

In terms of their records, it’s close. Wednesday have 46 wins to Boro’s 48, while 18 of them have finished with the spoils shared – there have been 27 goals scored in their last ten meetings going back to the start of the 2014/15 campaign, and the Owls have won the last two games between the sides.

Wednesday, it seems, have a clean bill of health aside from young Osaze Urhoghide (knee), and it could be one last swansong for long-term SWFC servants, Kieran Lee and Atdhe Nuhiu.

As for the visitors, they have no fresh injury concerns, however will be without key player, Jonny Howson, following his late red card in the 3-1 defeat against Cardiff City last week.

Speaking to the media today, Warnock said, “Jonny has let everyone down really. He’s been one of the big positives since I’ve got here, Mr Reliable and we will miss him in our last game. As he came past me on Saturday I said how disappointed I was, it was reckless.

“We’ve been looking at everything and the other midfielders we have and we’ll come up with the best solution we can… We’ve got a couple of little niggles but hopefully other than that it should be the squad from last week.”

Both sides may need a win to secure their place in the Championship next season – Wednesday are waiting on the outcome of their hearing against the English Football League and Boro are only two points clear of the relegation zone (without Wigan Athletic’s possible deduction) – and both managers have made it clear how important three points are on the final day.

All 12 games tomorrow get underway simultaneously at 7.30pm as the 2019/20 season draws to a close.

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