Sheffield Wednesday have nothing to lose in FA Cup third round tie vs Brentford
Sheffield Wednesday will be going in search of a first win since September when they host Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to produce an FA Cup upset when they welcome Premier League outfit Brentford to Hillsborough in the third round of the competition this afternoon.
The Owls, who have never previously faced the Bees in the competition, have experienced a season to forget thus far, currently finding themselves bottom of the Championship on -7 points, meaning the FA Cup will offer them some respite from the bread and butter of the league.
Wednesday brought the curtain down on their festive schedule with back-to-back 3-0 away defeats at Preston North End and QPR, meaning they will be going in search of a first victory of 2026 against the high-flying Bees, who currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.
With the squad decimated because of an extensive injury crisis, it remains to be seen just how strong a team Owls manager Henrik Pedersen will be able to field for what will be his first game in the FA Cup as a manager.
Ahead of the Bees’ visit to Hillsborough, here are five pre-match talking points:
How many changes?
With Dominic Iorfa now facing up to six weeks on the sidelines because of a groin injury and Harry Amass having returned to Manchester United following the conclusion of his loan spell, Pedersen is guaranteed to make at least two changes to the starting XI that started last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Loftus Road.
Unfortunately for the Dane, he is not expecting to recover anyone from the treatment room, meaning more academy players could step up and take their place in the matchday squad. However, Svante Ingelsson, who missed the defeat at QPR through illness, has been spotted in training this week and it remains to be seen how soon Yan Valery will be available for selection after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON].
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Pedersen was asked last week if he intended to use the visit of Brentford to go with a starting XI made up of predominantly youth players, offering the likes of Liam Palmer, Barry Bannan and Jamal Lowe to earn a rare breather, but he indicated that would not be the ideal way to approach the game, meaning his starting XI is likely to be similar to the ones we have seen in the league in recent weeks.
Among the youngsters who will be pushing for starts, though, will be the likes of Reece Johnson, Rio Shipston and Favour Onukwuli. Exactly how the Owls will line up, though, remains anyone’s guess.
A welcome distraction
What do Wednesday have to lose against Brentford? Absolutely nothing. They are winless in the league since September and are already as good as relegated, meaning the FA Cup is just the sort of distraction Pedersen and his players need.
Over the years, arguments have been put forward for Wednesday to forget about the FA Cup and put all of their energy into prioritising their league campaign. With this season’s Championship campaign already as good as over, there is no reason why the Owls should not prioritise trying to pull off an upset.
Of course the Bees will arrive in S6 as overwhelming favourites and will expect to advance to the fourth round, but stranger things have happened in the FA Cup and that is the beauty of it.
Pedersen will, of course, have no choice but to field a largely inexperienced matchday squad because of the injury situation and squad exodus that took place back in the summer, but the youngsters delivered against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup back in August when everyone least expected them to do so.
Even if Wednesday were to get a couple of league wins under their belts in the coming weeks, the outcome of their campaign, with respect, is not going to be altered. However, an FA Cup upset could lead to a day out to look forward to in the fourth round.
Brentford are flying
Amid Wednesday’s situation, every opponent they have faced this season has meant they have been in for a stern test. Brentford, though, are likely to offer them the toughest they have faced yet.
As already documented, the Bees climbed up to fifth in the Premier League on Wednesday night with an impressive 3-0 win over Sunderland, meaning it is the highest they have ever found themselves in the Premier League table outside of August.
The Bees are unbeaten in each of their last six league matches, winning four, meaning they will arrive at Hillsborough with a spring in their step. Additionally, they have scored three goals or more in three of their last four matches, putting Bournemouth (4-1), Everton (4-2) and Sunderland (3-0) to the sword.
Just how strong a team Bees boss Keith Andrews will name in S6 remains to be seen, but it is still likely to be strong enough to expect to win without too much fuss. Brentford will be keen to enjoy an FA Cup run this season after being knocked out of the competition at the third round stage in each of the last three seasons, including a shock 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle a year ago.
Prize money on offer
In addition to wanting to try and spread some positivity and book their place in the fourth round, Wednesday will also want to try and cause an upset because of the financial reward on offer.
With a takeover still yet to be completed, funds are not exactly flush at Hillsborough, meaning every penny the club can generate in the meantime will be gratefully received. The FA Cup offers prize money throughout the competition, meaning Wednesday have the chance to bring in some much-needed funds on Saturday afternoon.
In the event of Pedersen’s troops pulling off a shock, the Owls will bank £121,500 for winning the tie. £26,500 will be awarded to the loser.
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Owls’ recent FA Cup record against top-flight clubs
After facing Championship opposition in each of their last three FA Cup assignments (Coventry City twice and Cardiff City), Wednesday will welcome the opportunity to test themselves against a Premier League outfit.
The Owls have faced four Premier League opponents in the last six seasons, winning two and losing two of those four ties. The victories came against Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020, winning 1-0 at the Amex Stadium, and Newcastle United in 2023, winning 2-1 at Hillsborough, both in the third round.