Two newly promoted sides adapting to life in the Championship very differently meet at Hillsbrough this weekend as struggling Sheffield Wednesday host high flying Ipswich Town.
Key Takeaways
- The hosts are still looking for their first win of the season
- Ipswich have won four of five league games so far
- Ipswich striker Nathan Broadhead has scored three goals in five games
Despite both being newcomers to the English second tier this season, these two teams could not be any different when it comes to the start to the season they've had. The hosts will be desperate to get their first win on the board and begin their season proper, while the visitors will rock up in Yorkshire full of confidence and gunning for the Championship's top spot.
Sheffield Wednesday Form
Wednesday got their first point of the season before the international break in a 0-0 draw with local rivals Leeds United, which at least put to an end their horrible run of four straight defeats, between which they were also unceremoniously knocked out of the EFL Cup in the second round on penalties by League Two Mansfield Town.
It's not been a dream start to life back in the Championship for The Owls. After controversially sacking former manager Darren Moore and replacing him with Xisco Munoz, things have not exactly been rosy in South Yorkshire. They can take some solace from getting their first clean sheet of the season, and first point in the process, last weekend, but Munoz's team look bereft of ideas across the pitch thus far.
Ipswich Town Form
Ipswich would not have been predicted to occupy an automatic promotion spot going into the weekend of their sixth game of this new Championship season, but that's exactly where they sit.
Kieran McKenna has continued his outsanding work at the club this season by picking up four wins in five in the league, with their only defeat coming in a 4-3 thriller against Leeds. Meanwhile, the newly promoted side have also advanced to the third round of the EFL Cup with wins over Bristol Rovers and Reading.
Head-to-Head
The historical record for these two very much favours the hosts. Ipswich have won just one of the last eight games between the two sides, a 2-1 win back in 2018. Across six years, in both League One and the Championship, Wednesday have won three of those encounters, with four draws making up the numbers.
Team News
Recent loanee Mohamed Diaby, who arrived from Portuguese side Portimonense, will be unavailable for selection for Xisco Munoz's side, while he nurses a leg injury. Deadline day arrival Jeff Hendrick, who has joined on loan from Newcastle United, may get a start in the middle of the park if the coach is looking to rotate.
Ipswich Town have no absentees in the way of injured or suspended players of note and McKenna should have a full strength squad to choose from for this match.
Key Players
Captain Barry Bannan is the talismanic figure in this Sheffield Wednesday side. His leadership in the middle of the park was a huge part of what got them up last season and he is likely to be equally pivotal this time around if the newcomers are to avoid the drop.
Former Everton youngster Nathan Broadhead has really found his feet since joining Ipswich in January. His 8 goals in the second half of last season, alongside the 26 of top scorer Conor Chaplin, drove the Suffolk side to promotion, and with 3 goals in his first 5 league games this time around, he looks to be taking to the Championship quite well.
Final Thoughts
Ipswich seem to have a lot more quality and a much better idea of how to play than their hosts and, while the historical data does favour Wednesday, the visitors should run out worthy winners when all is said and done this weekend.
Championship