Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday will lock horns against each other in a must win game for the Black Cats, out of the many remaining ones.
Sunderland’s youthful revolution under Régis Le Bris is paying off. With Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg combining for 12 goal contributions, the Black Cats are firmly in the playoff hunt. However, Anthony Patterson’s costly mistake against Hull has raised questions about his starting role. A win on Friday could see them go 14 points clear of 8th place, making their Premier League return look more realistic.
On the other hand, Sheffield Wednesday’s season started with a bang but has since settled into a steady rhythm. Sitting 12th in the Championship, their playoff hopes are still alive but fading fast. Danny Rohl’s decision to stick with the Owls over Premier League-struggling Southampton showed commitment, but results haven’t been as rewarding.
Three wins in their last 12 and a leaky defense have put the brakes on momentum. To make matters worse, their recent record against Sunderland isn’t promising — losing 4-0 earlier this season and 3-0 at Hillsborough last year.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Sunderland vs. Sheffield Wednesday live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this EFL Championship match in the U.S.:
- TV channel: –
- Live stream: Paramount+
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in English in the U.S. Streaming options for this game are available on Paramount+, which is currently offering a FREE trial to new members.
What time does Sunderland vs. Sheffield Wednesday kick off?
This EFL Championship clash takes place at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England and kicks off on Friday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Fri, Feb. 28 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Central Time | Fri, Feb. 28 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Fri, Feb. 28 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Fri, Feb. 28 | 12:00 p.m. |
Sunderland vs. Sheffield Wednesday lineups, team news
Sunderland aren’t exactly at full strength either, with injuries stacking up across the pitch. Dan Ballard and Enzo Le Fee’s fresh setbacks mean Chris Mepham steps back in alongside Luke O’Nien in defense.
Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil will look to control the midfield, while Wilson Isidor—who’s been a goal machine with 12 Championship strikes—leads the line. With both teams struggling for defensive stability, this could turn into a shootout rather than a tactical chess match.
Sunderland predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Patterson (GK) — Hume, Mepham, O’Nien, Cirkin — Bellingham, Neil — Roberts, Rigg, Mayenda — Isidor.
Injured: Alese, Ballard, Le Fee, Danns, Huggins, Watson
Suspended: None
Sheffield Wednesday are limping into this one—literally. With a depleted defense missing key centre-backs Di’Shon Bernard, Dominic Iorfa, and Akin Famewo, the Owls will have to get creative at the back. Max Lowe will once again be thrown into the fire alongside Michael Ihiekwe, while Gabriel Otegbayo could see action on the left.
Midfield maestro Barry Bannan remains the heartbeat of the team, and with Ibrahim Cissoko pushing for his first start, Wednesday will hope their attack can compensate for their defensive absences.
Sheffield Wednesday predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Beadle (GK) — Valery, Ihiekwe, Lowe, Otegbayo — Bannan, Charles — Gassama, Armstrong, Cissoko — Smith.
Injured: Famewo, Musaba, Bernard, Iorfa
Suspended: None
EFL Championship fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Friday, February 28
- Sheffield Wednesday vs. Sunderland (3:00 p.m.)
Saturday, March 1
- Blackburn Rovers vs. Norwich City (7:30 a.m.)
- Leeds United vs. West Bromwich Albion (7:30 a.m.)
- Oxford United vs. Coventry City (7:30 a.m.)
- Luton Town vs. Portsmouth (10:00 a.m.)
- Middlesbrough vs. Derby County (10:00 a.m.)
- Queens Park Rangers vs. Sheffield United (10:00 a.m.)
- Stoke City vs. Watford (10:00 a.m.)
Tuesday, March 4
- Cardiff City vs. Burnley (2:45 p.m.)
- Hull City vs. Plymouth Argyle (2:45 p.m.)
- Millwall vs. Bristol City (2:45 p.m.)
- Preston North End vs. Swansea City (2:45 p.m.)
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >