Bottom of the Championship and the only team left without a win, Sheffield Wednesday kick off the action from the English second tier on Friday night. They host Sunderland, a team who had turned things around in great style, but they do come here under a cloud, after a loss last weekend.
Sheffield Wednesday Form GuideAfter winning the playoff final last May, the feeling around Sheffield Wednesday was great, but to say things haven't gone to plan so far would be a bit of an understatement. The Owls sacked manager Darren Moore in the summer, made wholesale changes to their squad, and that's left them with a lot to do, and right now, a squad that doesn't really know each other, or how to play.
Wednesday have two points on the board from draws away at Leeds and at home to Middlesbrough. But they come alongside six defeats, with the most recent of those being a big 3-0 defeat away at Swansea, who prior to that game, had also not managed a win during the season. There's a huge amount of work to do moving forward.
Sunderland Form GuideTwo losses in the first two games of the season left me wondering what Sunderland were going to do this season. But they've turned it around, going on a run that saw them win four and draw one of their next five games. That came to an end at the weekend, when Sunderland lost 1-0 at home to Cardiff, a big surprise result, but it is fair to say they are back.
They come into the weekend in 5th position, and they've shown a great ability to play well away from home, with 3-1 wins over both QPR and Blackburn in the two games before they lost to Cardiff. They made the playoffs last season, that is the aim this season, and it's going well right now.
Match PredictionSunderland can get back to winning ways here. They should certainly not be afraid of playing away from home, and by the opposition they are taking on, I like their team a lot, and they are my pick for the win here.