Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to really kick on in the Championship when domestic football returns to action following the international break next week.
Danny Rohl’s team currently sit 15th in the second tier following a solid 2-1 win over Coventry City before the break for international football to take centre stage.
Wednesday have had a mixed bag of results so far. However, they did go into the break with seven points from three games, following huge victories over West Brom and against the Sky Blues.
The Owls did have a tough start to the season in terms of competition. Rohl has already seen his team face Sunderland, Leeds and Luton in the Championship so far.
As ever with the Championship, things don’t get any easier. The next run of six games going into the next international break look tough but Rohl will ensure his team is well-drilled.
Ahead of football returning in a domestic sense, we’ve tried to predict the outcome of the next six games going into the next break in November.
Burnley (H) – 19th October
The Clarets raced out of the blocks this season and it looked a foregone conclusion for a little while that they would romp back to the Premier League.
However, their goals have dried up a little bit amid an influx of player sales ahead of the deadline and Scott Parker is still trying to gel his team together.
That said, the Clarets have only lost once this season and in that game against Sunderland they could have won at a canter but for some missed chances.
We think this will be a tough game for the Owls and might result in a narrow – yet spirited – defeat.
Prediction: Wednesday 1-2 Burnley
Swansea (H) – 22nd October
A quick turnaround in the Championship after the international break sees Wednesday back at Hillsborough again for a second game in four days.
Swansea have been a bit of a mixed bag under Luke Williams since the Welsh outfit plucked him from the solid job he was performing with Notts County.
At the current break in proceedings, Swansea have won three, drawn three and lost three of their nine Championship fixtures this season.
Away from home, Swansea have found the net just twice and we believe this is a very winnable game for the Owls.
Prediction: Wednesday 3-1 Swansea
Portsmouth (A) – 25th October
This one looks tricky on the basis that it comes very shortly after the Swansea game and finishes a frantic first week back for Wednesday.
Portsmouth might be in a perilous league position but perhaps there is a sense that on their day they can cause problems for teams.
On the opening day, Pompey drew 3-3 with Leeds and they’ve also claimed points from games with Luton, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United this season.
The fact remains, however, that at this point Portsmouth are yet to taste victory this season and right now, it’s a game Wednesday will have to look at maximum points from.
Prediction: Portsmouth 0-1 Wednesday
Watford (H) – 2nd November
The Hornets have defied expectations this season and under Tom Cleverley, things look to be on the up at Vicarage Road.
With the second international break upon us, Watford are just inside the play-off places and Wednesday will have a tough game in store here.
One thing that Wednesday might take heart from is that the Hornets typically concede as many as they score their season.
The Hornets have already won five matches, however, and that is more than Leeds who sit one place above the Hertfordshire-based club at the moment.
Prediction: Wednesday 1-1 Watford
Norwich (H) – 5th November
A fourth home game in the next block of six and this could prove to be the toughest of the lot for Wednesday.
Norwich are enjoying a fine campaign and currently sit in seventh place in the Championship at the second international break.
Right now, they’ve scored the second most goals in the second tier with only Sunderland finding the net more times than the Canaries.
Wednesday have proved they can mix it with the big boys in the league on home soil and hopefully, this can be a repeat of the West Brom game.
Prediction: Wednesday 2-1 Norwich
Sheffield United (A) – 10th November
The big one! The one that all the supporters are waiting for and a first trip to face Sheffield United since 2019 is in store for Wednesday.
Given the money on fees and wages that the Blades have spent in the summer, this will naturally be a stern test.
United are currently second in the table and will fancy a shot at immediately returning to the Premier League this season.
We think Wednesday could cause a stir though and there is absolutely no way we’re going to predict a defeat for Rohl in his first game against the Blades.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Wednesday