Henrik Pedersen could make two changes to his Sheffield Wednesday defence vs Watford
Sheffield Wednesday will be going in search of their second victory of the season when they face Watford on Tuesday night.
After Saturday’s trip to Blackburn Rovers was abandoned due to the weather, Sheffield Wednesday will try again to halt their 12-game winless run when they face Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.
The Owls, who have lost each of their last four matches, saw their trip to Ewood Park abandoned during the second half after torrential rain meant the playing surface became unplayable. The players were taken off with around 60 minutes on the clock and referee Ruebyn Ricardo, ten minutes later, was left with no choice but to abandon the contest with Blackburn leading 1-0.
The expectation is that Blackburn and Wednesday will have to replay the contest in its entirety at a later date. Before the Owls can think about another trip to Ewood Park, though, they must navigate their way through various other challenges, starting with their trip to Watford.
The Owls will make the trip to Hertfordshire looking to try and arrest their winless run and record a first victory since September 20. Ahead of the tussle with Javi Gracia’s side, here are five pre-match talking points:
Duo to return?
After serving a one-match ban against Preston North End just over a week ago, Dominic Iorfa was back in the matchday squad for the Owls against Blackburn, but he was left out of the starting XI. Owls boss Henrik Pedersen decided to keep Yan Valery at right-sided centre-back, with Liam Cooper and Liam Palmer starting alongside him in the back-three.
With the Ewood Park clash having not gone the distance, Pedersen might not be forced into tinkering with his starting XI as much as he originally thought, especially when considering the Owls, after facing Watford, are not in action again until next Monday.
Max Lowe, too, was also on the bench at Ewood Park after missing the 3-2 defeat to Preston with a hamstring issue, meaning he may also creep into Pedersen’s thoughts when he comes to selecting his defence. It remains to be seen if Cooper will be able to start for a second time in four days.
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Stop the losing run
With Wednesday glued to the foot of the table on -10 points, they are, unfortunately, as good as already relegated. They are 28 points adrift of safety, and the chances of them beating the drop from here are almost impossible.
Although, on one hand, it does mean they are going to go into each of their last 28 games this season as massive underdogs, it could also be argued that they have nothing to lose and can play with the pressure off. The players and coaching staff are blameless for the current situation the Owls find themselves in, meaning they deserve the opportunity to enjoy a victory at some point, likewise the fans, even if the meaning of it in the context of the season will mean little.
The Owls will travel to Watford having lost each of their last four matches and will be attempting to avoid losing five in a row for the first time since losing seven on the spin in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign. That season, of course, saw the Owls relegated from the Championship on the final day of the campaign.
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Vicarage Road hoodoo
If Wednesday are to enjoy a rare victory, they are going to have to overcome their Vicarage Road hoodoo. The home of the Hornets has not been a happy hunting ground for the Owls in recent years, so much so they have won just two of their 14 visits to Vicarage Road this century.
Wednesday’s last victory at Vicarage Road came in December 2013, winning 1-0 thanks to a brilliant first half free-kick from Connor Wickham. In fact, that was the Owls’ last victory of any sort against the Hertfordshire outfit.
It means Wednesday go into the clash with the Championship play-off hopefuls winless in their last nine meetings. Watford won 6-2 at Hillsborough last November, before they met again at Vicarage Road on the final day of the season, drawing 1-1.
Watford don’t roll over
With Wednesday’s record against Watford in mind, now is probably not the ideal time to highlight the Hornets’ impressive home record so far this season. Saturday’s 3-2 win over Norwich City marked their sixth home win of the campaign, meaning they have won 21 points from a possible 30 on their own patch this term.
It means only table-toppers Coventry City have won more points at home (23) in the Championship so far this term. The Hornets sealed their sixth home win of the season by twice coming from behind to see off the Canaries, meaning they have now won five matches from a losing position this season.
Winning 18 points from behind thus far, it means they have won more points from a losing position than any other team in the division. It is an impressive trait, but boss Gracia is keen to see his team start games better.
Nevertheless, should Wednesday get their noses in front in Hertfordshire, expect Watford to come roaring back.
Chalobah in the frame
Speaking at Monday’s press conference, Pedersen confirmed Nathaniel Chalobah is in contention to make his long-awaited return at Vicarage Road after several months on the sidelines with a hamstring issue.
The midfield enforcer, who spent the 2012/13 season on loan at Watford, has not played since he scored in the Owls’ opening day defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in August.
Pedersen said of the midfielder: “He has trained in the last days. Maybe he will be part of the squad tomorrow.”
It would be a much-needed boost for Pedersen if he were to welcome another senior figure back into the equation.