Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Millwall

Aiming to narrow their three-point gap to the top six in the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday will welcome Millwall to Hillsborough on Saturday.

The visitors sit ninth after a New Year’s Day victory, while their visitors were unable to make a winning start to life under Alex Neil and sit 13th.

Match preview

© Imago

Sheffield Wednesday return to Hillsborough on Saturday aiming to continue a strong start to 2025 and build on their pleasing Championship campaign, having moved into the playoff fight thanks to an upturn in form in recent weeks.

A defeat to Blackburn Rovers in mid-December left the Owls on 26 points from 20 league outings, and they have since kicked on and added 10 more points to that tally in five further attempts, beginning with back-to-back triumphs over Oxford United and Stoke City before Christmas.

A trip to Middlesbrough then followed on Boxing Day, and Danny Rohl‘s side overcame a 3-0 deficit to draw 3-3 thanks to second-half goals from Svante Ingelsson, Josh Windass and Yan Valery, only to then visit Preston North End on Sunday and succumb to a 3-1 defeat.

Aiming to get back to winning ways and move closer to the top six, the South Yorkshire outfit most recently hosted Derby County on New Year’s Day and took all three points from an eventful contest, initially going 3-0 up through Barry Bannan, Windass and Djeidi Gassama before Anthony Musaba put the game out of sight in an eventual 4-2 triumph.

Now sitting ninth after the halfway stage of the campaign, Sheffield Wednesday will aim to keep building momentum and continue their climb towards the playoff spots with another three-point haul on Saturday.

© Imago

In their way stand a visiting side who will go in search of their first points under new management at the second time of asking this weekend.

After moving into a strong position at the top end of the table with four straight victories across October and November, Millwall now sit 13th in the Championship having only picked up one win and seven points from their last 10 outings.

Neil Harris departed in mid-December on the back of three straight defeats, and after a mixed spell under the temporary care of David Livermore which produced a victory, a defeat and a draw to end 2024, the Lions turned to Alex Neil to take permanent charge.

His tenure began at home to Oxford United on New Year’s Day, but the London outfit came away empty-handed as Ruben Rodrigues netted the only goal around the hour mark in a 1-0 away win.

Now sitting four points outside of the top half and seven behind Saturday’s hosts, Millwall will hope to bounce back and end their tough run at the weekend with a first victory under Neil.

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:

Millwall Championship form:

© Imago

Danny Rohl made rotations to his Sheffield Wednesday starting XI for their meeting with Derby County given the busy schedule, and several key players should return for Saturday’s contest, with Akin Famewo, Michael Ihiekwe and Olaf Kobacki set to remain sidelined while Marvin Johnson could also miss out after picking up a knock on New Year’s Day.

Josh Windass will return to the attack from the start, having scored from inside his own half against Derby County to make it five consecutive league goals in as many games and 10 for the season in England’s second tier, a tally only topped by two players.

Djeidi Gassama, Anthony Musaba, Michael Smith and Jamal Lowe will also compete for attacking spots, while Nathaniel Chalobah will hope to again join Shea Charles and Barry Bannan in the midfield.

Millwall continue to contend with several injury issues of their own, as defenders Jake Cooper and Dan McNamara will remain sidelined alongside attackers Josh Coburn and Aidomo Emakhu.

Alex Neil should field a similar starting XI to his opening game on New Year’s Day, although Femi Azeez and Tom Bradshaw will both compete to come into the attacking lineup after Romain Esse, Macaulay Langstaff and Duncan Watmore lined up in support of Mihailo Ivanovic against Oxford United.

Casper De Norre and George Saville should continue in the engine room despite competition from Ryan Wintle, while Murray Wallace will continue to join key man Japhet Tanganga in the middle of the defence in Cooper’s absence.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Palmer, Iorfa, Bernard; Valentin, Charles, Bannan, M Lowe; Gassama, Smith, Windass

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Millwall

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