Sheff Weds – Villa; Should be a cert, but I’m not convinced.

I’ve been thinking about this one all day and really can’t make my mind up as to how I think it’s going to go.
On paper, it should be quite straightforward, as after sacking Carlos Carvalhal, their previous manager who I thought was doing a very decent job, Wednesday have been pretty poor.
Indeed their home record is about as bad as it gets, with 2 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in their last ten games at home. That’s simply horrendous and close to relegation form.
It just goes to show the fans aren’t always right.

An away win it is and happy days then, surely?

Team news and Weds are similar to us, in that they have numerous longer-term injuries.
The latest news is that Jordan Thorniley won’t play after he was knocked out in their Millwall game, meaning he has to comply with the concussion protocol.
The better news on Wednesday’s part is that Jordan Rhodes and defender Tom Lees might start.

The very bad news on our part, is that Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah are still doubtful, but they will at least be assessed before the squad is named, so we can still hope.

And it’s the possible loss of those two which is making it so difficult to make a prediction for this game.
If they’re truly fit, I’d be confident in saying we’ll win.
But if they both miss out, well, we look so disjointed that I’d be much more likely to call the draw.

Callum O’Hare didn’t make the U-23’s squad last night and you’d have to guess that this decision was made for a reason, where I’d guess that if Grealish proves fit enough to start, the kid will warm the bench, with the option to swap the two out, if Grealish struggles. Although I’d prefer it if Grealish wasn’t risked if it might make his knock worse.
Or O’Hare will come in as a direct replacement for Grealish and the latter gets a few minutes when the young lad has tired, if he’s fit enough.
I could live with either scenario, as long as one of them plays. We need that bit of inventiveness and something different.
I’d guess Snodgrass will be ok and Elmohamady will probably start too.

So it basically revolves around who starts, in my opinion.
Which is a bit of a cop-out. But it seems Grealish and Adomah really are pivotal to how we play.

If I have to stick my neck on the block, I’m thinking we’ll draw.
And that won’t be enough. Again.

This isn’t on a par with the Fulham game, but the pressure is just as strong for us to get the win, even if it just gets us back on track.

1-1 it is, then.