Sheffield Wednesday began the post Gary Megson era with a draw at Rochdaleon Saturday with Chris Evans in charge of the team as new manager Dave Jones watched on from the stands. On Tuesday evening Jones leads the team for the first time with 3 points a must if the Owls are to make a challenge for second spot in League One as the season enters its final quarter.
The Owls go into the match with Bury with one fresh injury concern. Left-back Reda Johnson missed Saturday’s game due to a tight hamstring and his fitness will be assed ahead of kick-off. Winger Jermaine Johnson is likely to remain sidelined throughout the month due to a knee injury.
Jones is not expected to make too many changes at the back as the Owls have not conceded too many goals of late. The problems have been in the attacking third as the Owls have only scored twice in their last six matches and have not scored two or more on one occasion in their last nine games.
This could be a fresh start for everyone under the new manager and Jones can pick a front pairing from Clinton Morrison, Ryan Lowe, Gary Madine and Chris O’Grady. None have found any goal scoring form of late with O’Grady’s winning goal against Sheffield United the only one coming from an Owls striker in the last seven league matches.
Former Bury winger Mike Jones could get a rare start if Dave Jones chooses to field a more attacking line up and on loan Tottenham youngster John Bostock provides another midfield option.
Bury make the trip over the Pennines without the services of midfielder Giles Coke. The former Motherwell player is on loan to Bury from the Owls and the terms of his contract dictate that he is not eligible to play against his parent club.
Strikers Andy Bishop and David Amoo will be hoping to come into contention for places in the starting eleven having come off the bench to have a positive effect in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Huddersfield.
Wednesday come into the game having won just one of their last five games but a run of three successive league defeats was halted with a home win in the Sheffield derby followed by Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Rochdale.
Bury are without a win in eight games but will be boosted by Saturday’s comeback to draw 3-3 with Huddersfield having trailed 3-0. They also earned a creditable point at runaway league leaders Charlton during their current winless streak and they have picked up six wins and two draws in 17 away games this season.
Bury earned a 2-1 win at Gigg Lane when the two sides last met back in August but they have generally struggled on their visits to the Owls. In 39 away games against Wednesday they have won just eight times, losing on twenty-five occasions and they have not won on any of their last ten trips to Hillsborough dating back to 1948.
Source: FOOTYMAD
