Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland preview: Team news, head-to-head, prediction
Sunderland return to Championship action this Friday with an away encounter against play-off-chasing Sheffield Wednesday.
Sunderland have taken a huge hit to their promotion chances over the last 10 days with a defeat to Leeds United closely followed by another at home to Hull City.
Eight points now separate the Mackems from the top two places, which while not unsalvageable, would certainly be a huge ask with just 12 games remaining.
However, with a win at Hillsborough, they are still in with a chance but improvements will be needed from the last showing that sparked concerns for Sunderland.
Preview
Sunderland head into this game knowing just how important it is that they come away with all three points, while it will be a similar feeling for the hosts.
The Black Cats will need a severe slip-up from Sheffield United if they are to make up the ground in the race for a top-two finish but also need to get back to the form that had them competing at the top for so long.
| Championship table (4th-7th) | W | D | L | P |
| Sunderland | 17 | 11 | 6 | 62 |
| West Brom | 12 | 15 | 7 | 51 |
| Blackburn | 15 | 6 | 13 | 51 |
| Coventry | 14 | 8 | 12 | 50 |
As for the hosts, a slow start to the campaign had few very anticipating a playoff push of their own, but a turn in form since the new year has seen them emerge as real contenders.
Six points separate the Owls from the top six, despite being seven places below them just showcasing how tightly contested the Championship is outside of the top four.
Form Guide
Sheffield Wednesday: DLWLL
Sunderland: WDWLL
Head-to-head
Sunderland 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday (August 2024)
Sunderland 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday (May 2024)
Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Sunderland (September 2023)
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Sunderland (August 2022)
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 (2) Sunderland (May 2022, League One play-off semi-final)
Team news
Sunderland were dealt a triple injury blow earlier in the week, though one of those players is certainly a bigger miss than the others.
Enzo Le Fee will be absent from the clash and could miss up to eight weeks of football after sustaining a hamstring injury at home to Hull, while Dan Ballard is also out for a similar length of time.
Jayden Danns having arrived on loan on deadline day, is still out injured and may never actually play a game for the Black Cats as his struggles go on.
Romaine Mundle’s return came at a perfect time, with Tommy Watson also expected back imminently.
As for the hosts, they have several injury concerns of their own with Dominic Iorfa and Anthony Musaba among those sidelined.
Predicted lineups
Sheffield Wednesday: Beadle, Valery, Ihiekwe, Lowe, Otegbayo, Bannan, Charles, Gassama, Armstrong, Cissoko, Smith
Sunderland: Moore, Hume, Mephm, O’Nien, Cirkin, Neil, Jobe, Aleksic, Poveda, Mundle, Isidor
Where to watch?
Sunderland’s clash against Sheffield Wednesday will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football on Friday, 28 February with the game set to kick off at 8 pm GMT.
Prediction – Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Sunderland
Sunderland are in desperate need of a win to settle some of the nerves that emerged as a result of the home defeat to the Tigers.
Momentum at this stage in the season is key and while the absence of Le Fee will be a huge blow, they should have more than enough to secure all three points.