Sheffield Wednesday: No TV nerves for Owls
Former Owls striker Jay Bothroyd
IF SHEFFIELD Wednesday’s track record is anything to go by, it is unlikely they will freeze in front of the Sky cameras this weekend.
The Owls welcome a rejuvenated Nottingham Forest to Hillsborough on Saturday night (Sky Sports 2, kick-off 5.20pm) looking to extend their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
It will be the sixth time Wednesday have been broadcast on Sky during the 2012/13 campaign and they have tasted success on three occasions.
In their first match, Dave Jones men fought back from two goals down to defeat Oldham Athletics 4-2 in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
They had to wait two months for their next TV appearance, a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds United on a Friday night which was overshadowed by a Leeds fan invading the pitch and attacking Owls number one Chris Kirkland. Michael Tonge’s stunning long-range effort cancelled out Jay Bothroyd’s opener. It was the striker’s only goal in 14 starts while on loan at Wednesday.
However, the Owls were beaten 3-1 at Middlesbrough in November thanks to strikes from Justin Hoyte, Ishmael Miller and Lucas Jutkiewicz.
In a tense South Yorkshire derby at Barnsley in mid-December, Jones’ charges triumphed 1-0 at Oakwell to halt a run of seven successive losses courtesy of a controversial strike from Chris O’Grady. Referee Stuart Attwell allowed the forward’s goal to stand in the relegation showdown despite Gary Madine impeding Reds shot-stopper Luke Steele in an aerial challenge. Since then, O’Grady has joined Barnsley on loan.
Wednesday’s final TV outing came at Hull City on January 12 where they produced one of their best performances of the season to see off the Tigers 3-1. Reda Johnson, an own goal from Eldin Jakupovic and Michail Antonio sealed the club’s first victory in 2013.
Having lost just once in their last 11 Championship matches, Wednesday sit in 18th position, five points above the drop zone.
But they can ill-afford to take Forest lightly. Since Billy Davies returned to the dug-out, the club have picked up seven points from a possible nine. A week ago, Forest thrashed Huddersfield Town, who are two points and two places below Wednesday in the standings, 6-1.
Radoslaw Majewski has been the driving force behind Forest’s improved form. The Pole has grabbed four goals in his last two starts.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
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