Brian Laws
Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

That's the consequences of sloppy play from the back. Sunderland punishing sloppy defending, and Dan Ballard, on the edge of the six-yard box, giving the keeper no chance whatsoever.

When you are at the bottom, mistakes are always punished.

George Byers is back in the side and serving as captain in the absence of Barry Bannan.

He is penalised for a challenge on Jobe Bellingham, giving Alex Pritchard the opportunity to strike a 22-yard free-kick which deflects behind for a corner.

Wednesday starting on the front-foot, getting possession and winning a throw-in in a dangerous position, they can't make the most of a couple of crossing opportunities from the right, however.

Brian Laws
Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

I'm hoping for a good performance from Sheffield Wednesday, and an attacking one at that.

Sunderland are a very young, attacking and energetic team. There are flaws in their game against physical sides, but if anyone wants to match up and play football then Sunderland will give them a game.

Sheffield Wednesday are going to need to start well.

Image source, .

The off-field talking is over, for now. For the next 90 minutes (and goodness knows how much added time) it's all about the football.

Away we go...

In memory of Sheffield United player and employee Maddy Cusack who died last week.

Sheffield is united.

Image source, Getty Images

Got something to get off your chest during the match and nobody to listen to you? Join the conversation by posting your comments on the social platform X, formerly known as twitter, and we'll publish the best ones right here...

Alternatively, drop us a message on WhatsApp 03301231826, or text 81111.

One change for Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray from the side which was surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home by Cardiff on Saturday as Patrick Roberts is drafted into the side with Abdoullah Ba dropping to the bench.

Roberts has been gradually working his way back to fitness from a hamstring injury sustained in August and has featured in the last three matches from the bench.

Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Huggins, Bellingham, Neil, Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke, Burstow.

Subs: Bishop, Aouchiche, Hemir, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg, Ba, Taylor, Rusyn.

Image source, Getty Images

No captain Barry Bannan or Josh Windass in the squad for Wednesday as Xisco Munoz makes two changes from the side which went down 3-0 at Swansea on Saturday.

George Byers and Callum Paterson are brought in with Juan Delgado dropping to the bench and Bannan missing out altogether, apparently through injury.

Byers will take the armband tonight.

Sheff Wed XI: Vasquez, Valentin, Bernard, B. Diaby, Famewo, Paterson, Byers, Hendrick, Buckley, Musaba, Gregory.

Subs: Dawson, Palmer, Iorfa, Vaulks, Bakinson, Delgado, Gassama, Fletcher, Smith.

Well, Sheffield Wednesday haven't beaten Sunderland twice in a row at Hillsborough since February 1973 when Ted Heath was in No10 and Sweet were top of the charts with 'Block Buster'.

The Owls will, however, be looking to break that run tonight, having beaten the Black Cats 3-0 in front of their own fans in November 2021 in League One.

Sunderland did win the reverse fixture that season 5-0 at the Stadium of Light and also got the better of their rivals in the play-off semi-final in May 2022 on their way to earning promotion with a Wembley win over Wycombe.

Sunderland have had the better of the recent head-to-heads too, winning five and drawing another of the eight matches dating back to these sides meeting in Sunderland's Premier League glory days around the turn of the millennium.

Those wins haven't come at Hillsborough though, they are winless in their last four visits to Wednesday, their last victory coming in January 2007, a 4-2 success.

The form book suggests that run should end tonight, but since when was football ever played on paper?

Image source, .

Not great if you're a Wednesday fan, if I'm honest. The Owls are bottom with just two points, the only winless side remaining in the second tier.

If we're looking for crumbs of comfort, however, you could say it's been a tough start at home. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to a strong Southampton side fielding several Premier League players on the opening weekend, while they lost their next two at Hillsborough by just 1-0 to Preston and Ipswich, who are among the pacesetters.

Wednesday drew their last floodlit home game 1-1 with Middlesbrough after a decent first half and if they can shake off the manner of Saturday's 3-0 capitulation at Swansea, then they will hope to build on that.

By contrast Sunderland have been quietly going about their business. Tony Mowbray was not panicking when they lost their opening two games, also to Ipswich and Preston, and they recovered taking 13 points from their next five games before Sunday's surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Cardiff halted their momentum.

In their favour tonight though is the fact Sunderland are the best travellers in the Championship.

Not only have they won five of their last seven away league games, but they have won more than any other side on the road since the start of last season, picking up 13 victories.

Image source, Getty Images

There has not been too much relaxing going on round Hillsborough way in the past few months, if truth be told.

Ever since their moment in the sun, the stoppage-time in extra-time Wembley winner against Barnsley in the League One play-off final, things have gone a little sour for the Owls.

That momentous day was four months ago today.

Since then manager Darren Moore has been sacked, Spaniard Xisco Munoz brought in and Wednesday have endured a torrid start to the season, losing six of their eight games, drawing the others, and being dumped out of the EFL Cup at home to League Two Mansfield.

Things reached a new low at 08:00 BST this morning when owner Dejphon Chansiri - who has been the subject of increasingly vocal protests from fans - released an emotional statement insisting he will not put any more money into the Championship club.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Good evening, and welcome to your Friday night.

The work clothes are off, the out of office is on, must be time to relax with some sport, isn't it?

Let's get straight to it, shall we? If you're looking for live text coverage of Sheffield Wednesday's home game with Sunderland, the first offering of a bumper feast of EFL weekend, then you've come to the right place...