MY ACCOUNT
Neither Sheffield Wednesday or Sunderland will want to spend another season in League One, yet only one of them will progress to the playoff final.
Ross Stewart’s goal on the stroke of half-time in the first leg of their semi-final on Friday was enough to give the Black Cats an advantage to take to Hillsborough this evening.
Sunderland boast an excellent recent away record which should leave Alex Neil’s side in a confident mood.
However, the Owls have been a tough nut to crack on their own patch this season and there looks to be plenty of football to be played in this one before we find out who will book their place at Wembley for the final on Saturday, May 21.
Team news
There looks to be a strong chance that both teams will be unchanged from the line-ups that started the game at the Stadium of Light.
Wednesday are set to be without Ciaran Brennan and Dominic Iorfa again, but striker Lee Gregory is available and will be looking to boost his fine recent scoring record of eight goals in his last nine games, which included a hat-trick in a 3-2 win at Fleetwood.
Meanwhile, Carl Winchester and Nathan Broadhead are once again doubtful for the Black Cats, so it would be no surprise if boss Alex Neil kept faith with the line-up that earned his side a first-leg advantage.
The stats
It has been a tight battle for the League One playoff places this season and consequently both Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland have gone into the post-season in rich veins of form.
The Owls have been particularly strong at their South Yorkshire home, with promoted Rotherham the only visitors to have won at Hillsborough since the beginning of October.
Moore’s men have won seven of their last eight home league matches, but it is notable that they have kept clean sheets in only two of their last seven Hillsborough tests.
Their reverse at the Stadium of Light was only their second defeat in their last 12 games, but Sunderland have now gone 14 games without a loss while they have kept five clean sheets in their last six away matches.
Predictions
There were just seven shots on target between the two teams in the first leg and this looks destined to be another cagey affair.
Nerves are likely to be strong and there is little to choose between the two teams, which suggests Sunderland may feel another solid defensive performance on the road will be enough to see them through.
Wednesday scored 50 goals during their home season but it seems unlikely they will break their opponents down at will.
Do not expect many goals at Hillsborough, as it may be that these two big fish in the League One pond will need extra time to figure out who is off to Wembley.
