Owls out to overcome local rivals as Championship battle hots up

15 February 2010 18:07
Wednesday Vs Donny team news Sheffield Wednesday face Doncaster Rovers at Hillsborough on Tuesday evening in what is yet another crucial clash in the Coca-Cola Championship table. Despite winning five of seven games since Alan Irvine took charge Wednesday have been unable to put any significant distance between themselves and the relegation zone but the form of the teams towards the bottom of the table has dragged others into trouble and almost half of the teams division could potentially still end up in a relegation dog fight. Wednesday go into the Doncaster game on the back of last Tuesday’s home win over Blackpool having not played at the weekend due to West Bromwich Albion’s cup commitments. The Owls have no new injury or suspension issues to concern them and are likely to pick the same side that earned a well deserved 2-0 triumph over the Lancashire outfit last week. Doncaster come into the game having put a poor recent run of results to an end with a 1-0 home win over high-flying Nottingham Forest at the weekend. On loan Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp scored the only goal in that game and the Blades fan will be gunning for the Owls once more having scored the winner when the two sides met at the Keepmoat stadium earlier in the season. Rovers may be without a couple of players who featured in the Forest fixture. Centre back Jason Shackell lasted barely 15 minutes on his return from a hernia operation and Shelton Martis was also forced out of the game in the second half. Fellow defender Gareth Roberts is also struggling with an injury that kept him out of the weekend’s match and midfielder Martin Woods is also expected to miss out. In order to combat their defensive problems Doncaster have completed the loan signing of out-of-favour Coventry City centre back Elliott Ward and he is in line to make his Rovers debut at Hillsborough. Wednesday have a perfect Hillsborough record during Alan Irvine’s short tenure so far with three wins from three on home soil. Doncaster were without a win in five prior to Saturday’s victory and they have not won away in the league since beating Derby County on December 19th. They have only won two of fourteen away league games to date and currently sit three points ahead of the Owls in 14th place in the Championship table. 

Source: FOOTYMAD