Matt Hamshaw faces a Sheffield Wednesday dilemma ahead of Blackpool fixture
Five talking points ahead of Sheffield Wednesday’s League One clash with Blackpool at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday will be determined to bring their three-game winless run to an end when they welcome Blackpool to Hillsborough this afternoon.
The Owls, who have not faced the Tangerines in the third tier for over 20 years, were forced to settle for a point last time out after drawing 1-1 with Cambridge United at Hillsborough on Tuesday evening.
The visit of the U’s, of course, marked Wednesday’s first outing since the departure of former boss Henrik Pedersen last Sunday. The Owls are yet to appoint his successor, meaning interim boss Matt Hamshaw will take charge for a second time today.
Ahead of the visit of the Tangerines, here are five pre-match talking points:
Any changes in attack?
Hamshaw shuffled Wednesday’s forward line against Cambridge in midweek, recalling Callum Slattery, Harry Gray and Mason Burstow to the starting line-up. Slattery had missed the trip to Doncaster Rovers three days earlier through suspension, while Gray was the loanee who was forced to miss out.
Burstow came off the bench against Rovers and went close to scoring on more than one occasion, meaning he earned a recall to the starting line-up against Cambridge. He repaid Hamshaw’s faith by firing Wednesday in front shortly after half-time. The Hull City loanee has been denied a consistent run in the team in recent weeks and will be determined to build on his midweek outing after ending an eight-game goal drought.
With Burstow the favourite to spearhead Wednesday’s attack, there is a debate to be had over who will support him. Kieran Morrison will be eyeing a recall to the starting line-up, potentially taking up a position on the right and forcing Gray to either switch back to the left or drop out of the team altogether.
Davis Keillor-Dunn and Slattery will both be hoping to retain their places in the starting XI, but both are at their best when deployed in the No.10 position. Although Wednesday are still without the likes of Jamal Lowe and Louie Barry, competition for places in the attacking department remains fierce.
A must-win game
With the clash against Plymouth Argyle at Hillsborough on November 14 not guaranteed to go ahead due to potential international call-ups, there is a possibility that today’s visit of Blackpool could mark Wednesday’s last League One outing for almost three weeks.
Wednesday will turn their attention to the first round of the FA Cup when they travel to Oldham Athletic next Sunday before hosting Accrington Stanley in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy three days later. Should the Plymouth fixture be postponed, Wednesday’s next League One outing will come on November 20 against Barnsley at Oakwell.
Having won just one of their last seven league games, Wednesday desperately need three points this afternoon to ease some of the pressure and keep themselves as close to the play-off places as possible. They are currently ninth, three points shy of the final play-off spot.
Furthermore, Wednesday need to develop a winning habit at Hillsborough after claiming just two victories from their first six home league games this season. That record needs to improve if they are to mount a serious challenge for an immediate return to the Championship.
Anyone watching?
A week on from Pedersen’s departure, Wednesday are yet to appoint his successor. The Star reported on Friday that a number of candidates were being considered, with those shortlisted expected to enter discussions with the club’s hierarchy in the coming days.
It is understood that former Stockport County boss Dave Challinor is a contender to replace Pedersen, while reports elsewhere on Friday evening linked former Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin with the position. Wednesday are understood to have been considering candidates with experience both in England and overseas.
With Wednesday hopeful of making an appointment before next weekend’s trip to Oldham, it is possible that one or two contenders may be watching from the Directors’ Box at Hillsborough this afternoon. Just as it was during the takeover race, it could be worth keeping an eye on that area of the South Stand.
Burstow’s search for consistency
As documented, Burstow’s excellent strike in Tuesday night’s draw with Cambridge brought his run of eight games without a goal to an end. Latching onto a quickly taken free-kick from Slattery, the on-loan striker unleashed a fierce right-footed effort that beat goalkeeper Jake Eastwood via the the post.
It was his second goal in Wednesday colours and his first since the 7-2 victory over Bromley at the end of August. The challenge he now faces is to build on that goal and put a consistent run of form together.
Although he scored 12 goals during his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers last season, the striker experienced spells of both excellent and poor form. For example, he scored seven goals in ten games between the start of August and the beginning of October before going 16 league games without finding the net.
He is a streaky player, highlighting his ability to put together a run of good performances when his confidence is high. Wednesday will now be hoping he can build on his midweek strike.
Familiar faces
Wednesday’s first league meeting with Blackpool in more than a decade will see two familiar faces return to Hillsborough this afternoon in the form of Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Jerry Yates.
Goalkeeper Peacock-Farrell spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Hillsborough, keeping 16 clean sheets in 47 appearances as Wednesday narrowly missed out on an immediate return to the Championship in the League One play-offs. The 30-year-old has been with Blackpool since July 2025, having initially arrived on loan from Birmingham City before the move was made permanent in January 2026.
Yates, meanwhile, is back in Blackpool colours after returning to the club on a season-long loan from Luton Town in August. The striker, who previously represented the Tangerines between 2020 and 2023, has scored three goals in 12 appearances this season. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Wednesday, scoring four goals in 18 appearances.
Blackpool also have former Owls centre-back Michael Ihiekwe on their books, but he has yet to feature this season because of an injury that required surgery in April.