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.
We need the win for this one, I reckon.
The injuries weve had this season are quite frankly laughable. Have we got a team full of wetters? Its always calf or hamstring. Dont these players warm up properly? Do they let their muscles get cold at half time? It feels to me like it will be Bruce get out of jail card if we somehow throw this season away. To be honest im not feeling positive at all tomorrow. I can see Bruce having 3 holding midfielders in the team whilst playing only 1 upfront chasing long balls running around like a headless chicken. I pray he shows some invention with his team selection!
If Bruce has 3 holding midfielders playing against a team with a supposed 16 senior players injured, then it should be off with his head. Should be pretty straight forward win for us, but as you said, I’m not convinced either. We’ll make things way too difficult, they’ll somehow dominate us still. Rhodes will be back from illness and get a goal.
Fortune favours the brave so they say. Will Bruce be brave and ditch is let’s not lose mentality. Against Wednesday surely this is a good opportunity to take the game to them with their poor home record and massive injury list.
Spot on, we must be positive. Both Lansbury and O’Hare should be starting
Under no circumstances should Bruce use injuries an any excuse when the opposition have apparently 16 players out at the moment. Nor do I want to hear that Hillsborough is a “tough place to go” because it’s not- they’ve won 2 out of their last 10 at home and even Blues won there 3-1. No negative BS, 3 points or nothing. A draw is worthless at this stage
Here we go again! Whelan’s back.
Bad luck Bjarnason you played defensive midfield and we kept winning. Your reward was to be placed out of position so we could lose and draw the last two matches and now you have been dropped.
We are really requiring Hourihane to step up but he’s been out of form.
Sorry but very pessimistic even with Shef We’d having significant Injuries.
We really hope my gut feeling is misplaced.
UTV
well i am happy no jedi in midfield, looks like we have legs in our engine for once,that should lead to having some movement and hopefully creation of chances for hogan,
So its hepburn murphy on the bench no ohare. Hopefully we do the biz early and we see him and davis get some game time. Glad Grabban is starting could be the danger man for us. Bet Onomah proves me wrong and has a worldy today! Fingers crossed anyway
Whelan in for Jedinak? Why not Lansbury? Onomah playing again? No O’Hare. Is he injured? Hepburn Murphy on bench is only positive? Overall i’m Unimpressed. Hope i’m proved wrong. I predicted 1-1 against Preston. Forecast 1-1 again.
Actually missed the fact that Bjarnasson was only on bench. Don’t know what he has to do to get in front of Whelan and Jedinak in pecking order.
I can only assume O’Hare is injured or ill. Good to see RHM as an option on the bench. I hope we play on the front foot rather than sit back. If we can’t take the game to an injury ravaged Wednesday then I would despair.
We should have enough to win this, but i’l be surprised gif it’s convincing or pretty.
I’m lost to know what’s on Bruce’s mind, Onomah doesn’t want to play for Villa and he plays him, Bruce has had fans writing to him asking not to play him and he does, I’m off to watch a stream on the game and I only hope he’s called this knowing something we don’t.
1 down
1-1 grabbam
2-1 Sheffield .
2-2 Whelan,
2-3 Villa Hourihan
2-4 Snodgrass
I really don’t know what happen, I seen Sheffield hit the post and theymwasmall over us, we was second to the ball Onomah was his normal self slow, great win lads.
Did it get easier when Onomah came off? Hope Bruce has noticed.
I don’t know Adam, we should be first choice on channel 5 tonight.
Wow
Speechless
Great result
UTV
Haven’t been able to watch game but Bruce made substitutions which paid off. Whelan proved himself with a goal. When he brought Jedinak on for Hogan I thought it would end up a draw. Would like to hear from anyone who saw the game on their verdict.
YES!!!!!
They kept us waiting but at last we have a team with some resilience.
Now 1 point off second and 9 from seventh. Play offs look nailed on and let’s face it most of us would have settled for that at the start of the season.
To all those Bruce nay sayers I’d just say have a look at Sunderland because without Bruce I think that could have been us too.
If it hadnt been for Dr Tony you mean, its all about poor ownership at Sunderland. Short is unbelievably even worse than Lerner.