Sheffield Wednesday could set another unwanted record in Championship fixture vs Millwall
Sheffield Wednesday will be targeting a first home win of the season when they host Millwall at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday will be desperate to halt their goalless and winless runs when they welcome Millwall to Hillsborough this afternoon.
The Owls, who were narrowly beaten by the Londoners at The Den back in November, losing 1-0, stretched their winless run in all competitions to 26 matches last time out, losing 4-0 to Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium.
That defeat in South Wales also marked a ninth consecutive league game without a goal for Wednesday, meaning they will be hoping to get themselves on the scoresheet for the first time in just over seven weeks against Alex Neil’s side, who will arrive in South Yorkshire looking to tighten their grip on a play-off spot.
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Ahead of this afternoon’s clash in S6, here are five pre-match talking points:
Stick or twist?
After ditching his back-five system to move to a back-four against Swansea last Sunday lunchtime, Owls manager Henrik Pedersen must decide if he plans to revert to his preferred system after watching his side ship four goals against Vítor Matos’ troops.
Although Wednesday have had plenty of days to forget this season, their defeat in South Wales did mark the first time they had conceded four goals away from for almost a year. Pedersen made the decision to move to a back-four amid an increase in calls for him to be more proactive in his selection choices after a long period without watching his team find the back of the net.
However, having conceded four goals, the Dane might be tempted to go back to a more familiar system. The chances of that happening, though, could rest on Liam Cooper’s availability.
The experienced centre-back was described as ‘a doubt’ for the visit of Millwall by Pedersen at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, meaning it remains to be seen if the defender will be available for selection. If he is to be ruled out, the Owls boss may not have a choice but to stick with a back-four amid a lack of alternative options.
Cole McGhee is a likely replacement in the event of Cooper being unavailable.
Bannan returns
It is quite fitting that Barry Bannan will make his first return to Hillsborough since joining Millwall 17 days ago on Valentine’s Day, giving Wednesdayites the opportunity to share their love and appreciation for their former captain who served the club so well for ten-and-a-half years.
The Scot joined the Lions for an undisclosed fee with less than a week of the January transfer window remaining after making his farewell Wednesday appearance against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. However, thousands more supporters will be able to express their appreciation towards him this afternoon.
It promises to be an emotional occasion for the Scot and his family after they developed a unique bond with the club and its supporters over his time at Hillsborough. Whether he starts, comes off the bench or is substituted in the second half, a standing ovation is guaranteed for a modern-day Owls legend.
Watching him in a Millwall shirt in the flesh will feel immensely strange for the fans, while Bannan himself will no doubt feel strange trying to beat Wednesday. Whatever the outcome, he is in line to receive one of the best receptions a former Wednesday player ever has - and he deserves it.
Wednesday risk setting unwanted record
Is today the day Wednesday finally score a goal? Everyone of a blue and white persuasion will be hoping so. The Owls are goalless in their last ten games in all competitions, last finding the back of the net in their 2-2 draw with Hull City on Boxing Day.
Their ten-game goalless run has consisted of nine games in the Championship and one in the FA Cup. Wednesday have lost each of their last eight league games, with their most recent point being earned against Blackburn Rovers (0-0) at Hillsborough on December 29.
As a result of losing each of their last eight league games without scoring a single goal, Wednesday are on the cusp of becoming the first team in English Football League history to lose nine games in a row without finding the back of the net.
Additionally, Wednesday are also in danger of becoming only the second team in second tier history to extend a goalless run into double figures. The last team to break into double figures in the second tier for a goalless run was Coventry City (11) all the way back in 1919.
Millwall’s form
Millwall will arrive at Hillsborough looking to take full advantage of Wednesday’s woes as they aim to tighten their grip on a play-off place. Last weekend’s 2-0 win at Wrexham saw them remain fifth, opening up a six-point cushion on the Red Dragons, who are currently sixth.
The Lions have been in good form of late, losing just one of their last nine Championship matches, winning five. They are also unbeaten in their last three matches and have won two of their last three away from home.
Lions head coach Alex Neil, who has faced Wednesday 17 times in his managerial career, has overseen an excellent job at The Den ever since taking charge right at the start of 2025, amassing 90 points from 54 games in charge.
A three-point haul for the Lions at Hillsborough will see them climb to third and potentially open up a gap as big as nine points back to sixth place. They have lost just one of their last ten meetings with the Owls.
New faces could make S6 debuts
Wednesday were able to add to their squad in the final 24 hours of the transfer window recently, bringing in Tayo Adaramola, Joel Ndala and Marvelous Nakamba. The trio all featured in the defeat at Swansea with Adaramola and Ndala starting and Nakamba being introduced from the bench in the second half.
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With Pedersen continuing to work with a threadbare squad, there is a strong likelihood all three of them could feature in the starting XI this afternoon, meaning they will get their first opportunities to show the S6 faithful what they can bring to the table.
If Nakamba is handed his first start in Wednesday colours, he could make his first start since Zimbabwe’s final game of the Africa Cup of Nations on December 29. His last domestic start was Luton Town against Exeter City in the EFL Trophy on December 2.