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Sheffield Wednesday logo
Championship
Apr 14, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Brentford logo

1-0

Lee (75')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Brentford

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship meeting between Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford.

Promotion hopefuls Brentford will go in search of a crucial victory when they visit Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night.

As both sides enter the final four games of the season, Brentford are hoping they can extend their campaign further by booking a playoff spot, while Wednesday are looking to clinch a top-half finish.


Sheffield Wednesday

Stevie May of Sheffield Wednesday celebrates his goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday at The Den on February 24, 2015© Getty Images

If the positive talk coming out of Hillsborough is to be believed, there is plenty for the loyal Sheffield Wednesday supporters to look forward to next season after a solid campaign in the Championship.

The arrival of new owners has been greeted with cautious optimism, but if the summer goes as expected, the Owls will be hopeful that they can produce a promotion bid after 15 years without top-flight football.

For now, the focus remains on finishing this campaign strongly, and recent form suggests that could be easier said than done following some poor results.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic means that it's just one victory in the last six games for Stuart Gray's side, and finding the inspiration for a late-season charge is the big test for the Wednesday boss.

Currently sitting 13th in the table, the target will surely be ninth place with Nottingham Forest only three points better off heading into a packed midweek schedule.

However, finding top form at home since the turn of the year has been difficult, with Gray's side winning just one and drawing six of their last nine games at Hillsborough.

Recent form: DLWDLD


Brentford

Mark Warburton the Brentford manager looks on before the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Brentford at Craven Cottage on April 3, 2015© Getty Images

When Mark Warburton says his goodbyes at the end of the season, the Brentford boss will be thanked by every one of the club's many supporters whether he manages to guide them to the Premier League or if he falls just short in an impressive campaign.

As the confusion surrounding the club's decision to part company with the manager remains, the dream of taking Brentford to the top flight of English football is still alive, despite two frustrating results halting the team's momentum in the last week.

Coming from two goals behind to hold Nottingham Forest last Monday could turn out to be crucial at the end of the season, but there was certainly a feeling of disappointment on Saturday as Darren Bent rescued a 1-1 draw for Derby in stoppage time after Brentford had dominated their promotion rivals.

As a result, Brentford remain in seventh spot in the table but they are currently level on points with Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who sit one place above and one place behind them, respectively.

All of their four remaining fixtures come against sides sitting in the bottom half of the table, but Warburton will be keen to guard against complacency as he searches for the results which would take his side back into the playoff spots.

A five-match unbeaten run has arrived at an important time, but turning draws into wins over the next four games will be key if Warburton is to sign off in style.

Recent form: LWDWDD


Team News

Jota of Brentford celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Brentford at Craven Cottage on April 3, 2015© Getty Images

An excellent performance against Derby may not have been rewarded with three points, but Warburton is unlikely to make major changes for his side's latest test on the road.

Jonathan Douglas should keep his place in midfield, which means Stuart Dallas could be set to start on the bench once again, while Andre Gray will lead the line for the visitors.

Wednesday made six changes against Charlton at the weekend, but there could be a recall for either Stevie May or Adthe Nuhiu as Gray considers freshening up his attack once again.

Lewis Buxton is expected to start in defence again after returning to the lineup for the first time in over six months on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood, Buxton, Zayatte, Lees, Helan, Isgrove, Hutchinson, McGugan, Maguire, Lavery, Nuhiu

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Button, Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell, Diagouraga, Jota, Pritchard, Judge, Douglas, Gray



Head To Head

The two sides settled for a point each earlier this season when they played out an uneventful goalless draw at Griffin Park, and it's been difficult to separate the two teams in recent years.

A draw in October made it three games unbeaten against Brentford for the Owls, despite only winning one of the last five matches against the Bees.

Brentford have visited Hillsborough five times since the turn of the century, and only once have they left Yorkshire on the losing side thanks to two wins and two draws


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Brentford

Brentford may have found the draw with Derby difficult to accept, but they showed glimpses of their best form and Warburton will be desperate for his side to return to winning ways. Wednesday have found it tough to deliver the goods and the visitors should be able to pick up three vital points.



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Darren Bent of Derby scores his team's first goal of the game during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Watford at iPro Stadium on April 3, 2015
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