Sheffield Wednesday host Sunderland at Hillsborough for the Friday Night Football in the Championship this weekend. The two sides have had vastly different starts to the season, as three points for Sunderland would keep them within the Play-offs whereas a win for Wednesday would be their first of the season.
The Owls currently sit rock bottom of the Championship after just eight games. Within these eight games, Sheffield Wednesday have zero wins, two draws, six losses and just two points which leaves The Owls four points adrift of safety.
In their last five games in all competitions, The Owls have three losses and two draws. The two draws came against Leeds United and Middlesbrough. The Leeds game was a goalless draw, but Anthony Musaba was on the scoresheet for Sheffield Wednesday in the 1 - 1 draw with Middlesbrough. The first loss came against League Two Mansfield in the League Cup. Musaba once again scored for Wednesday, but Rhys Oates equalised in the 85th minute. However, Liam Palmer and Will Vaulks both missed a penalty and The Owls lost 5 - 4 on penalties. Conor Chaplin scored the only goal in the 1 - 0 win for Ipswich Town and Wednesday failed to register a single shot on target.
Sheffield Wednesday had a rotten away day in their last game out. Jamal Lowe converted a penalty and Jerry Yates and Charlie Patino also joined him on the scoresheet in a 3 - 0 win for Swansea.
Sunderland, on the other hand, have had a solid start to the season. After eight games, The Black Cats have four wins, one draw and three losses, leaving them with 13 points. With these points, Sunderland sit fifth and eight points off of automatic promotion.
In their last five games in all competitions, Sunderland have three wins, one draw and one loss. The one draw was a goalless affair against Coventry with Sunderland only managing two shots on target. In somewhat of a shock, Jack Clarke, Bradley Dack, Chris Rigg and a double from Pierre Ekwah gave Sunderland the 5 - 0 win over Southampton. Kenneth Paal opened the scoring for QPR but after Jack Colback was sent off in the 21st minute, Sunderland took over. Clarke, Daniel Ballard and Abdoullah Ba all scored in the 3 - 1 win over QPR. The Black Cats picked up another 3 - 1 win this time against Blackburn Rovers. A double from Clarke and a goal from Dan Neil cancelled out Harry Leonard’s early goal and gave Sunderland the 3 - 1 win and the three points.
Last time out for Sunderland was a disappointing loss to Cardiff. With 66% of the possession and six shots on target, Sunderland suffered a last minute goal from Mark McGuinness to give Cardiff the 1 - 0 win.
This is a very historic fixture, first happening back in 1892 and 127 times afterwards. Not much separates the two teams with Sheffield Wednesday winning 49 times and Sunderland have won on 50 occasions and the other 29 games ending in a draw.