Sheffield Wednesday

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Sheffield Wednesday are starting to eye a surge towards the play-off positions as they seek a third consecutive win against struggling Preston at Hillsborough.

The Owls' victories away to Hull and Derby have lifted them to 12th in the table and three more points on Saturday could leave them just two shy of a top six place.

North End have followed a rather different trajectory of late, slumping to 18th after a run of eight matches without a victory - although the past three have all been draws. Paul Heckingbottom's side are yet to win away from Deepdale this season.

● Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their last seven league games against Preston North End (D1 L4), one of which came in the last meeting between the pair during a 1-0 success at Deepdale.

● Preston North End have won two of their last three away league games against Sheffield Wednesday (L1), as many victories as across their prior 10 visits to Hillsborough combined beforehand (D1 L7).

● Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their last two league games, and could win three in a row for the first time since August (a run of four).

● Six of Preston's last eight league games have ended in a draw (L2), including each of the last three in a row. The Lilywhites last drew more consecutively in September 2021 (5).

● Sheffield Wednesday have collected more points from losing positions than any other side in the Championship this season (10), four of which have come in their last three league games.

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Sheffield Wednesday have taken a "huge step forward" this season but manager Danny Rohl wants to improve results at home.

The Owls have only won three of their nine games in the Championship at Hillsborough and have the chance make that record better when Preston North End visit on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Wednesday's brilliant late turnaround win at Derby last Sunday was their fourth on the road and Rohl wants some of that to rub off on their own patch.

"Of course we want to win home games but coming back from 1-0 down [at Derby] shows a lot about our mentality and belief," Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It showed our fitness and willingness to run until the end and we have eight games in four weeks [until 1 January] so it will be a tough time."

After 18 games last season, the Owls had only seven points, but following seven wins in 2024-25, they've improved that by 18 points and sit 12th in the table, five points outside the top six.

"We have 25 points which is a huge step forward," Rohl added.

"Clubs that had 25 points last season - some went up and some down. It's up to us which direction we want to go.

"Preston are fighting for everything and a good pressing team but for us it's big opportunity to take the next three points and gift it to our home fans."

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has said he will not risk striker Ike Ugbo, who was substituted at half-time during the Owls' 2-0 win at Hull City on Tuesday.

Ugbo's replacement Michael Smith scored with nine minutes remaining to seal Wednesday's third Championship away win of the season.

"For him, we have a little bit to look at," Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield ahead of his side's trip to Derby County on Sunday.

"We cannot risk something. Let's see what happens there, and all the other players are fine."

"If you are out for two weeks now, you are out for four games, and this is something we cannot risk."

Rohl also confirmed that Josh Windass will be available for Sunday's match after he was brought off at half-time at Hull.

Windass' 37th-minute penalty was the first spot-kick Wednesday had been awarded since May 2023.

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Anthony Musaba admits Sheffield Wednesday could have helped themselves to more than the two goals they scored against Hull City on Tuesday night.

Wednesday were awarded their first penalty in over 18 months for Josh Windass to open the scoring in their 2-0 win over a struggling Tigers side.

Substitute Musaba then provided the volleyed assist for Michael Smith to seal the points but despite a blistering first half the Owls had to wait until the 81st minute to claim a second goal.

Windass, Ike Ugbo, Djeidi Gassama and Pol Valentin all went close for the visitors in the opening 45 minutes as the Owls fashioned 12 of their total 16 shots.

"It was a fantastic team performance," Musaba told BBC Radio Sheffield. "Especially in the first half, the way we played on the ball was outstanding.

"We could have taken a few more goals - but in the end, it's football."

Missed chances seem to be a recurring theme in Wednesday's performances this season but the winger sees the result through an optimistic lens.

"We have to look positive to the game and we are going off the pitch with the three points, that's what matters," Musaba added.

"I think we are moving in the right direction, especially if you compare it to last season - it's a big difference."

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Sheffield Wednesday defender Di'Shon Bernard has said he feels much more confident in himself ahead of Tuesday night's Yorkshire derby with former side Hull City.

The 24-year-old scored his first goal in 101 EFL games in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Cardiff City at Hillsborough - his last coming for Salford City against Mansfield Town in January 2021.

"I wasn't happy with the way I started to be honest, I wasn’t really quite up to speed," Bernard told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I never had the full pre-season but I’m feeling much better, I’m much more confident in my performances now."

The Jamaican international has played every league minute for the Owls he has been available for since his red card in the 2-1 defeat to Luton Town in September and believes he is getting back close to his best form.

"I’m looking much better on the ball, much better defensively," Bernard added.

"I’m always trying to keep working hard and improving. Hopefully, I can stay consistent with these performances."

Bernard returns to Hull after spending the 2021-22 season on loan there from Manchester United, where he made 28 appearances in what was his first season in the Championship.

"It's always nice going back to the MKM. It should be an interesting game but hopefully we can win," he added.

Hull City are looking for their first win in nine league games (D3 L5) as they host Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

The run of lacklustre results leaves the Tigers in the precarious position of 22nd on the Championship table, three points ahead of Portsmouth in 23rd but, equally, three points off Luton in 16th.

Meanwhile the Owls dominated their 1-1 draw against Cardiff at the weekend and will be hoping that their form sees results this time around as they aim to climb out of the bottom half with a rare away win.

• Hull have won four of their last five league games against Sheffield Wednesday but did lose 3-1 against them on New Year’s Day this year.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost their last three away league games against Hull since winning 1-0 in April 2018.

• Hull have won just two of their previous 16 home league games (D9 L5) and could lose successive such games for the first time since November 2022.

• No Championship side has lost more away games since the start of last season than Sheffield Wednesday (19), losing four of their seven such games this season (W2 D1).

• Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass has scored two goals in four Football League appearances against Hull, netting last time out against the Tigers in January.

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Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl has stated he is not happy his side were only able to pick up a point in the 1-1 draw with Cardiff City.

Wednesday dominated Saturday's game, producing 16 shots, although only three of them were on target.

"Yeah of course not happy from my side - again the performance I think we tried everything to win this game," Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It's the final decision, maybe one extra pass to make it a 100% goal chance, then we had a one against one with the goalkeeper.

"We missed I think four big chances, we didn’t score and it’s hard to take.

The Owls have started the season inconsistently, winning five and losing seven of their first 16 league matches, but Saturday's performance ranks as one of their best of the campaign so far.

"I must say we controlled really everything from them, the big things that I wanted them to- ball possession and a good structure.

"But we want to win games and that’s the most important thing in football."

Rohl also acknowledged it was an unusual that his side have not been awarded a single penalty since he took charge 13 months ago.

"You need this in football as well, the luck, I understand everyone says we could have had five [more] points," he added.

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Sheffield Wednesday defender Max Lowe says Saturday's game against Cardiff City at Hillsborough is a "great opportunity" to start putting together a run of good form.

The Owls are 15th in the Championship, three points above the drop zone, but face five other sides from the bottom half of the table over their next seven matches.

"The discussion has been had, we know it's a great opportunity for us," Lowe told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I still think it's a little bit too early to look at the table but we know these are games we can win.

"In this league, if you put a run of 10 games of really good form and performances and the results come along, you know we will be up there in the table.

"So, we need to look at that and go into this run with full confidence."

Lowe joined Wednesday in the summer after four years at local rivals Sheffield United and says he's been "enjoying it since day one".

"I feel like I've learned every day under the manager and coaching staff," he added.

"The lads have been great with me as well. It might come as a surprise but even people like Marvin [Johnson], me and him play in the same position, but the first day I came in, he was helping me with how the gaffer wants us to play."

The 27-year-old has been utilised as a centre-back in recent weeks, as well as his usual left-back position, which he said is a new role for him but has "enjoyed learning it".

"I want to play every game I possibly can and I feel like now is a great opportunity for me to do that," he said.

"Whether it be at centre-back or left wing-back, I'm not bothered. As long as I'm on the pitch, I will give it my all.

"Hopefully we can get a run going now. We've got a lot of games at home and I think that will benefit us."

Sheffield Wednesday will look to bounce back from defeat in the Steel City derby when they welcome Cardiff City on Saturday. The Owls have been inconsistent so far this season (W5 D3 L7).

The Bluebirds arrive at Hillsborough in the relegation zone after two straight defeats having previously gone a six-game unbeaten run (W4 L2).

• Sheffield Wednesday lost both of their two league games against Cardiff City last season 2-1, having lost just one of their previous 11 against the Bluebirds (W4 D6).

• Cardiff City will look to win successive away league games against Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since 1976 after beating the Owls at Hillsborough 2-1 last season.

• Sheffield Wednesday have conceded 13 set-piece goals in the Championship this season (including penalties), four more than any other side.

• Cardiff City have lost 19 Championship matches in 2024, two more than any other side. The Bluebirds have lost each of their last two games.

• Cardiff have lost their last four Championship matches against Yorkshire teams, conceding 14 goals across these defeats.

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Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah continued his comeback from injury by featuring for the Under-21s in their 3-2 win against Burnley on Monday.

The 29-year-old was substituted at half-time as he eases his way back from recovery for his first match since 27 August.

The Chelsea academy graduate has struggled for fitness since joining Wednesday on a free transfer in July and has only made one appearance for the senior side - as part of the starting line-up for their 5-1 EFL Cup win against Grimsby Town, where he sustained a calf injury an hour into the match.

Devlan Moses scored twice for the Owls either side of Rio Shipston's deflected strike, with the young midfielder having replaced Chalobah at the break.

Tommy McDermott and Joe Westley were on target for the Clarets at Middlewood Training Ground.

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On-loan Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Shea Charles marked his debut as captain for Northern Ireland with a 2-0 victory over Belarus on Friday.

Charles delivered an assist for Dan Ballard's 50th-minute opening goal as brother and Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles kept a third successive international clean sheet, leaving the side one point away from promotion into Nations League B.

Defender Di’Shon Bernard did not feature for Jamaica in their 1-0 loss to USA on Friday but could potentially make an appearance in the second leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final on Tuesday after Everton's Mason Holgate was sent off for a second yellow card.

Meanwhile, keeper James Beadle kept his second clean sheet in a row for England Under-21's to help the Young Lions to a 0-0 draw against Spain on Friday.

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Sheffield Wednesday forward Michael Smith's strike against Portsmouth has won him the Championship's goal of the month award for October.

Smith scored what proved to be the winner as Wednesday came from behind to beat Pompey 2-1 at Fratton Park.

The 33-year-old is in his third season at Hillsborough and the goal on the south coast was the second of three he has managed so far this season.

The Championship goal of the month award is voted for by supporters, with Smith beating two efforts from Norwich City's Borja Sainz and one from Ollie Tanner of Cardiff City.

Sheffield Wednesday's narrow 1-0 loss in the Steel City derby on Sunday sees them in 15th place in the Championship table and just three points above the relegation zone.

Speaking to the Owls Heaven podcast after the match, manager Danny Rohl talked about how some teams in the division can afford to be slightly off their game and still claim results - but it's not a luxury his side can afford.

"I look not to so often to the opponent but I count our games now: QPR, then we go to Luton, even Burnley, we go to Swansea," Rohl said. "There's always the feeling that there's more in the game.

"I think this is the difference in this league. Bring the small details or the small moments on your side, then you will win games.

"If you have a good day and everything must be 100%, we don't have one game where we can win with 80% or 85% or 90%. Some opponents have this and I understand it's the reason they are on top. We have to do everything right."

When asked about the Owls' record for conceding in the second half - of which Wednesday are the joint-worst in the Championship alongside Portsmouth and Luton with 17 - Rohl believes it's more the type of goals they are conceding than the specific timeframe that is relevant.

"I think you should speak more about the 25 goals we have conceded - this is too much, and 14 of these are set pieces. This is more the topic for me," he added.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.