Championship | Gameweek 35

Feb 28, 2025 at 8pm UK

Hillsborough Stadium

Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland

Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday return to Hillsborough on Friday hoping to reignite their Championship play-off bid after losing ground in recent weeks.

In a much-improved first full season under Danny Rohl, they were within touching distance of the top six at the start of February when a three-game unbeaten run took them to 42 points from 30 games.

Since then, however, the Owls have failed to close the gap, picking up just three points in four attempts, with a 1-0 away win over Swansea City coming on the back of a narrow 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

Rohl's men then hosted fellow play-off chasers Coventry City, losing 2-1 as Ellis Simms grabbed all three points for the visitors in stoppage time, before visiting third-bottom Burnley on Friday and coming away empty-handed after a 4-0 thrashing, with Marcus Edwards, Josh Brownhill, Connor Roberts and Manuel Benson all getting on the scoresheet for the hosts.

The two defeats have seen Sheffield Wednesday drop to 13th in the tight top-half and, six points adrift of fifth-placed West Brom and sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers with 12 games remaining, they will be hoping to regain some ground with a home win on Friday.

Meanwhile, the visitors will also be hoping to bounce back from back-to-back defeats on Friday to keep their slim hopes of automatic promotion alive.

Sunderland have enjoyed an impressive campaign since the appointment of Regis Le Bris in the summer, staying in the top two throughout and amassing 62 points from 32 games with an eight-match unbeaten run between early January and mid-February.

However, the Black Cats' hopes have taken a severe knock since then, as their unbeaten run came to an end in agonising fashion away at leaders Leeds United, despite leading until the final 15 minutes through Wilson Isidor, when Pascal Struijk turned the game on its head with two late headers.

Hull City then visited the Stadium of Light on Saturday and condemned Le Bris's side to a sixth league defeat of the campaign, with an early Anthony Patterson own goal proving the only difference between the sides.

While Sunderland remain 11 points clear of the fifth play-off spot, they are now six points behind third-placed Burnley and eight behind second-placed Sheffield United, meaning any hopes of automatic promotion will depend on results elsewhere and the Black Cats getting back to winning ways from Friday.

Recent Performance

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:WDLWLL

Sunderland Championship form:DWDWLL

Team News

Sheffield Wednesday's injury problems continue, particularly at the back, with centre-backs Di'Shon Bernard, Dominic Iorfa and Akin Famewo all sidelined along with wingers Anthony Musaba and Olaf Kobacki.

As a result of these absences, Max Lowe will again deputise alongside Michael Ihiekwe at the heart of a back four, while Gabriel Otegbayo could take Marvin Johnson's place on the left.

Stuart Armstrong will continue to partner key men Barry Bannan and Shea Charles in midfield, while January loan signing Ibrahim Cissoko will be hoping for a first start after Josh Windass and Djeidi Gassama flanked Michael Smith in attack last Friday.

Sunderland have their own selection problems as Tom Watson, Aji Alese, Jayden Danns and Niall Huggins remain sidelined, while defender Dan Ballard and midfielder Enzo Le Fee have picked up fresh injuries.

In Ballard's absence, Chris Mepham returns to the starting line-up to partner Luke O'Nien at the heart of defence, while Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil continue their partnership at the back.

Up front, Eliezer Mayenda is likely to start in the absence of Le Fee and Watson, while Chris Rigg and Patrick Roberts will support lone striker Wilson Isidor, whose tally of 12 Championship goals this season is second only to that of two other players.

Possibles starting lineup

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Beadle; Valery, Ihiekwe, Lowe, Otegbayo; Bannan, Charles; Gassama, Armstrong, Cissoko; Smith

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin; Bellingham, Neil; Roberts, Rigg, Mayenda; Isidor