By Steve Manning
Hillsborough Stadium, Saturday 18/02/23 – kick-off 3pm. Matchday: 32 of 46
Team & Player Statistics:
Sheffield Wednesday Pld 30 W 19 D 8 L 3 gf 53 ga 20 gd +23 Points: 65 Top scorer: Josh Windass – 9 goals. Top assist provider: Josh Windass – 7 assists. Previous result: Sheffield Wednesday beat relegation candidates Morecambe 3-0 on Valentines Day.
MK Dons Pld 31 W 8 D 5 L 18 gf 28 ga 46 gd -18 Points: 29 Top scorer (season): Mo Eisa – 7 goals. Top scorer (league): Will Grigg & Brad Johnson – 5 goals each. Top assist provider: Dawson Devoy – 3 assists. Previous result: MK Dons were smashed 5-0 away at Bolton, on Valentines Day.
Head to head: Sheffield Wednesday wins: 5 Drawn: 6 MK Dons wins: 2 – SWFC goals: 20 Dons goals: 15
Last meeting: League 1, Saturday 6th August 2022 – MK Dons 0 Sheffield Weds 1 (Stadiummk)
Bolton defeat in review: Sorry there’s nothing positive to write here, defensive crisis – or not – this performance is nowhere near acceptable.
For a comprehensive write up on the game visit www.mkdsa.org.uk.
How the Owls could line-up: Darren Moore favours the tried and tested 3-5-2 wingback system. Not expecting any change here. Possible Owls starting XI: Dawson; Palmer, Flint, Famewo; Adeniran, Dele-Bashiru, Vaulks, Bakinson, Johnson; Windass, Smith
How Dons could line-up: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 are the choices that face head coach Jackson. Possible Dons starting XI: Cumming; Watson, Tucker, Jules, Harvie (c); McEachran, Smith; Leko, Devoy, Dean; Eisa.
Ones to watch: Aden Flint – Central Defender: a towering mohemoth in the Owls back three. Defensively he is solid for Moore’s men, and he has been known to chip in with the odd goal or two as well – an all round threat to Dons.
Jamie Cumming – Goalkeeper: the Chelsea loanee is certainly being made to work for his supper as he marshal’s possibly the worst backline at the club in recent memory (I’d argue that any defence pre-2007 was worse). JC has carried himself with professionalism through this muddy patch, and if Dons are to escape with anything he will have to be at his very best.
Score Prediction Sheffield Wednesday 3 MK Dons 0 Another defeat is on the cards here, the defencive issues will play a major part in how this game pans out in South Yorkshire.
Match Odds supplied by Ladbrokes: SWFC win: 4/9 Draw: 16/5 MKD win: 13/2 Correct score: (0-3) 17/2
The Sheffield Wednesday fixture comes along at the right time, the team will be hurting massively after that crushing defeat away at Bolton on Valentines Day. A big improvement is needed at Hillsborough, let’s get behind Jackson and Co, let these boys know we are in this together.
See you there! Until Next Time, SM.