Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham preview: Championship clash live on Sky Sports red button
Watch live on Sky Sports red button or the mobile app on New Year's Day from 2.55pm.
Monday 31 December 2018 12:18, UK
Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood will return for Sheffield Wednesday to face Birmingham.
He missed Saturday's draw at West Brom due to "aches and pains", according to Owls caretaker boss Lee Bullen.
Steven Fletcher may also return after being rested for the same reason. Fernando Forestieri (hamstring) is a doubt while Kieran Lee (knee), Gary Hooper (groin) and Sam Winnall (hamstring) are sidelined.
Kristian Pedersen could miss a fourth straight game for Birmingham if he fails to recover from an ankle injury.mThe defender sat out Saturday's goalless draw with Brentford due to the issue.
Marc Roberts is out until towards the end of the month with a hamstring problem. The Blues will be without long-term injury absentees David Davis (ankle) and Isaac Vassell (hip).
Opta stats
Sheffield Wednesday have lost each of their last three league games against Birmingham, their worst run against them since October 2008 (five straight defeats).
Birmingham's 3-1 win at Hillsborough in last season's Championship ended a six-match winless league run away at Sheffield Wednesday for the club (D2 L4).
Sheffield Wednesday have alternated between a win and a defeat in their last five league matches on New Year's Day - they lost last time out, a 0-3 reverse against Burton Albion.
Birmingham's Garry Monk has won all four of his Championship games against Sheffield Wednesday as a manager, doing so as manager of three different clubs (Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Birmingham City).
Adam Reach has been involved in five goals in his last eight league appearances at Hillsborough (4 goals, 1 assist).
Birmingham have lost just two of their last 10 away league matches (W4 D4) - they lost nine of their 10 prior to this run (W1).
Prutton's prediction
Sheffield Wednesday were moments away from a third win on the spin on Saturday and will be so frustrated that they gave it away at the death against West Brom.
Birmingham are seventh heading to Hillsborough but a bit of a gap is starting to open up between the top six and the rest. They will need to put together a run to close that gap but I've got a suspicion that the Owls could sneak this one at Hillsborough.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
