Match Info
- Sheffield Wednesday v Watford
- Sky Bet Championship
- Hillsborough
- Wednesday January 31, 7.45pm KO
- Yellow and black home kit
Officials
- Referee: Rebecca Welch
- Assistant Referees: Mark Stevens and Robert Hyde
- Fourth Official: Geoff Eltringham
Opposition
Sheffield Wednesday currently sit 23rd in the Sky Bet Championship table, six points away from safety and just three points better off than bottom-placed Rotherham United.
Fortunes looked to be improving for the Owls following back-to-back wins over Preston North End and Hull City, but a heavy defeat to Southampton and a home loss to Coventry City has stunted any potential momentum.
Wednesday started the season with former Hornets boss Xisco Muñoz in charge, but opted to part ways with the Spaniard after just 10 games, having gone winless and fallen to eight defeats.
German Danny Röhl was brought in and has given the side a fighting chance of staying in the division, picking up 19 points from 17 matches to date.
Stats Buzz
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The Hornets will be looking to continue their excellent recent record at Hillsborough, with the side unbeaten in their last four away league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W3 D1), last losing in March 2010.
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Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their last six league games against Watford (D2 L4) since a 1-0 win back in December 2013.
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Sheffield Wednesday’s defeat to Coventry in the Championship last time out was their seventh home league defeat of 2023/24; only QPR (8) have lost more games on home soil in the Championship this season.
Team News
Tom Dele-Bashiru is available after missing Sunday's cup match as a precaution.
Ken Sema will be in contention to make his return to league action after recovering from an injury to come off the bench against Southampton on Sunday.
Edo Kayembe and Jeremy Ngakia are also edging closer to a return, with both taking part in some light training on Tuesday. There is hope they will be available in the next couple of weeks.
Latest Wednesday recruit Iké Ugbo could be set to make his third appearance for the hosts after signing on loan from French side Troyes.
What Are They Saying?
Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:
“It will be an intense game; we need to make sure we have the right mentality and are ready to fight.
“We need to do the basics right and to force our quality. We know we can score at any time, and hopefully we can get the reward we want.”
Danny Röhl, Sheffield Wednesday Manager:
“We know now we have two important games, first with Watford and then Huddersfield.
“It is an important week, we invest a lot, we fight, our mentality is right and this is what we must continue to do.”
Head-to-Head
Overall:
Won: 24
Drawn: 10
Lost: 16
Last Six:
October 2023: Watford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
April 2021: Watford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
September 2020: Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Watford (Championship)
May 2015: Watford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
October 2014: Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Watford (Championship)
March 2014: Sheffield Wednesday 1-4 Watford (Championship)
Golden Flashback
Slaviša Jokanović's tenure as Watford boss got off to the perfect start at Hillsborough in October 2014, when goals from Odion Ighalo, Almen Abdi and Matěj Vydra earned the Hornets all three points, sending the side top of the table.
Follow Live!
Domestic and overseas supporters can access live coverage of Sheffield Wednesday v Watford, via the Hornets’ Hive Live streaming service.
Click HERE for more information on how to follow the game.
