Sheffield Wednesday registered an important three points with a midweek 1-0 home win over Championship strugglers, Stoke City, which has helped lift The Owls up into 3rd place ahead of this mouth-watering Yorkshire clash against 2nd placed local rivals, Leeds United, on Saturday lunchtime.
Sheffield Wednesday’s resurgence under manager, Garry Monk, has seen the hosts suffer just 1 defeat out of their last 7 matches and this improved sequence of results include wins against Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough, Wigan Athletic and Tuesday night’s win over Stoke City.
The Owls have won 4 and lost just 1 of their opening 6 matches on home turf at Hillsborough so far this season in the Championship, which includes earlier wins against Barnsley and Luton Town and just as important, 4 clean sheets to date too.
Form at Hillsborough has been solid for some time though as Sheffield Wednesday have lost just 3 of their last 20 matches at home in the Championship, while their last meeting at home against Saturday’s opponents, Leeds United, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Onto Leeds United, and the visitors rescued a point in their recent 1-1 draw away at Preston North end in midweek, thanks to a late equaliser by forward Nketiah who struck the leveller with just 3 minutes remaining.
It’s these sorts of results which help define a club’s season and Leeds will no doubt be hoping they can build on their recent positive results which has seen them secure a vital 1-0 home win against Birmingham City and the aforementioned point at 6th placed Preston North End.
However, despite appearing to be in full control and on a roll, Leeds United continue to be susceptible to the odd defeat, especially away from home where they’ve slipped up at Charlton Athletic and Millwall in recent back-to-back defeats, so it may be best to swerve the straight win market for this clash.
But having scored in 11 of their last 15 away matches in the Championship, Leeds usually pose a serious goal threat wherever they travel and the likes of forwards Bamford, Alioski and Nketiah are well supported by midfielders Hernandez, Klich and Phillips.
Being a Yorkshire derby, anything could happen here but both teams have produced some solid results of late so both look set to hit the back of the net in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.