Sheffield Wednesday host Championship leaders Leeds United on Friday night at Hillsborough Stadium. The Owls are 10th in the Championship and sit just four points behind Leeds.
Wednesday have got off to a great start under manager Jos Luhukay securing 14 points from 27. Meanwhile, Leeds are coming off of their first loss of the season. Marcelo Bielsa’s team suffered a shock defeat to Birmingham, enabling them to record their first win of the season.
Despite the great start under Bielsa, Leeds haven’t distanced themselves from the chasing pack. Currently on 18 points, Leeds could find themselves out of the automatic promotion places depending on the weekend’s results.
Leeds are second in goals scored this term with 19. Forward Kemar Roofe has scored four of the team’s goals but is suffering from injury. Leeds haven’t relied on just one goal scorer, however. Seven other players have tallied at least one goal this term. Roofe has missed the entire month of September due to injury. Prior to missing time, Roofe had tallied his four goals in just three matches. Roofe isn’t expected to return this weekend and without him, Leeds will be slightly more one-dimensional.
Goal scoring hasn’t been a problem for Wednesday (14 goals scored), but keeping them out has been difficult. The Owls have conceded 14 goals in nine matches which is the fifth most in the Championship. Wednesday are yet to keep a clean sheet. Seven of Wednesday’s nine matches have seen three or more goals scored by both teams. The good news for manager Luhukay is the team’s home form. Wednesday haven’t lost at Hillsborough this term. The Owls have secured eight of 12 points at home. In three of those games the team has given up just one goal per match.
Wednesday hold a slight edge in head to head meetings with Leeds. The Owls are undefeated in four of six matches with three of those games ending in wins. Last season saw Wednesday win both meetings against Leeds. The teams combined to score three goals in both fixtures.
Bielsa has had to deal with more than just Roofe’s injury. While the club would like him to be back for Friday, it is believed Roofe won’t return until next week. Patrick Bamford, Pablo Hernandez, Gaetano Berardi, Conor Shaughnessy, and Izzy Brown are all missing or expected to miss Friday night. The loss of so many first team players is a huge blow for Bielsa. Unfortunately, since taking over the club, players have been dropping like flies.
Form and injuries will affect Leeds on Friday night. It will lead the teams to play out a score draw. Leeds may start to feel their early grip on the Championship begin to slip away.