[Grimois]

Saturday 4 April 2015
3pm Hillsborough

Recent Form

The Terriers travel the 27 miles from the JSS to Hillsborough this Saturday in dire need of a win, following a run of 5 games without a win which saw a return of just 2 points from a possible 15 in March.  A series of erratic and inconsistent performances leaves town starting April looking over their shoulders, in stark contrast to starting March feeling safe and secure mid-table.

The Owls fared somewhat better in March, with 7 points from 15 largely due to wins over struggling Rotherham and Blackpool. This means that they sit comfortably mid-table in 12th position, 6 places and 9 points ahead of Town. Their success comes, for the most part, via a relatively meagre defence. They’ve conceded just 40 goals, putting them on a par with Bournemouth – only Boro have a tighter backline. Consolation for Town is that they still manage a negative goal difference, with the fewest goals scored outside of the relegation places.

Past Meetings

This season

Back in November these two played out a goalless draw in which Stevie May was (arguably) lucky not to see red for a couple of late fouls on reserve keeper Joe Murphy. May also hit the woodwork twice.

Last season

The home sides did badly last season. Town won 2-1 at Hillsborough in November 2013, with Martin Paterson and Adam Clayton (remember them?) putting their differences aside and scoring in what should have ended as a comfortable win, but for an injury time goal for on-loan Connor Wickham which made for an interesting finale...

In the reverse fixture, in February, the Wendies won 2-0 with goals from Helan (famously booked twice in the 2012/3 fixture without being sent off) and Maghoma in a game which saw Town with two-thirds of the possession and no end product, which is a sentence that almost perfectly sums up Mark Robins’ reign at Town.

Blast from the past

Saturday 17 December 2011 in League 1 saw a thrilling 4-4 draw. Town burst into a 2-0 lead, before Wednesday came back to lead 4-2. Town pulled one back and then scored in the last minute to secure a point. Whilst Wednesday’s goals were from 4 different scorers, all of Town's came from Jordan Rhodes. Town’s only remaining player from that squad? Oscar Gobern.

Overall head-to-head (league only)

Played 47. Wednesday 14, Draws 11, Town 22 – Town have won 3 of their last 4 visits to Hillsborough, and have not lost there since 2004/5 season.

Played for both

This lad...not sure what his name is...



Possible line-ups

Prediction

I predict Town to nick it 0-1 with a last minute penalty from N. Wells.....

And finally

Anyone visiting Hillsborough for the first time, spare a thought for the 96.....