Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich preview
Thursday 23 August 2018 17:42, UK
Sheffield Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay could stand by his young pretenders as he targets back-to-back Sky Bet Championship victories when Ipswich arrive at Hillsborough.
Luhukay handed full debuts to left-back Matt Penney, 20, and 19-year-old midfielder Fraser Preston for Wednesday night's home clash with Millwall and was rewarded with a 2-1 victory, the Owls' first of the season in the league.
Liam Palmer, Adam Reach and Steven Fletcher also got the nod as the manager rang the changes in the wake of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Brentford on Sunday as Daniel Pudil, Ashley Baker, Sam Hutchinson, Atdhe Nuhiu and Fernando Forestieri made way, and all five will hope to retain their places.
Striker Lucas Joao could also return to contention after recovering from the groin injury he suffered on the opening day of the campaign.
Ipswich boss Paul Hurst has doubts over midfielders Cole Skuse and Jon Nolan. The pair started Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat at Derby despite picking up thigh and calf injuries respectively at the weekend, but Skuse is rated as a major doubt for the trip to South Yorkshire because of a knock and Nolan rolled an ankle against the Rams.
Hurst will at least be able to call on Fulham loanee Tayo Edun after the midfielder completed the one-match ban he earned for his sending-off against Aston Villa. Ipswich have picked up only two points from their four games to date and went out of the Carabao Cup to League Two Exeter.
Opta stats
Since a 2-0 win at Hillsborough in April 2007, Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their 18 league games against Ipswich (D8 L8), with both wins coming away from home.
Ipswich have only lost one of their last 12 away league games at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday (W6 D5).
Sheffield Wednesday have taken 10 points from their last four home league matches (W3 D1 L0) - as many as they managed in their previous 13 at Hillsborough (W2 D4 L7).
Ipswich have lost 14 of their last 17 Championship games when conceding the first goal, drawing the other three.
The last nine Championship goals scored in matches between Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich have been scored in the second half.
Six of the last eight Championship goals conceded by Ipswich have been scored via set-pieces (three corners and three free-kicks).
Prutton's prediction
David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
