Preview: Palace v Owls

Wednesday face one of their toughest fixtures on the calendar tonight when they make the trip to Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace looking to kick-on from Saturday's success against Cardiff.

Although more than a match for Palace, Selhurst Park has never been a happy hunting ground for the Owls, and with a long midweek journey thrown into the mixer, it'll make it even tougher.

Not to mention a certain Mr. Warnock, who'll be pretty keen to get one over his former, and the current, rivals, hot-on-the-heels of Palace's superb 1-0 win at West Brom.

Let's not kid ourselves, a draw at Palace will be decent for Wednesday, a victory would be even better...

Palace boss Neil Warnock told Yahoo Sport:

'The Wednesday camp will be buoyed by their result against Cardiff and I know it is always a good game against Sheffield Wednesday as Brian Laws believes in his teams playing good football.

'For obvious reasons I have some great memories of playing Wednesday in the steel city derbies.

'It is a long trek down to Selhurst for their fans but they will be looking forward to it after seeing their side get such a good result at the weekend.'

Palace boss Warnock will be looking to keep faith with the same eleven that pulled off a superb 1-0 win at promotion hopefuls West Brom at the weekend.

Freddie Sears, on-loan from West Ham and a target for Wednesday over the summer, will be missing through injury, while former Sheffield United centre-back Claude Davis is only fit for the bench.

Warnock, a man who loves to have a number of strikers on his books, will also be without frontmen Stern John and Calvin Andrew, who are both out injured.

The former Ipswich Town and Charlton man will be key in Palace's midfield engine room, and James O'Connor and Darren Potter are sure to be in for a busy evening.

Wednesday boss Brian Laws will also be keen to stick with the same starting eleven for the second week running, with only Marcus Tudgay a slight doubt with a neck injury.

Tudgay though is expected to get the nod to continue in attack alongside Luke Varney, although Leon Clarke and Akpo Sodje will both be willing and ready to take a starting role if called upon.

Etienne Esajas is likely to continue in place of Jermaine Johnson in midfield after the Dutchman scored one and created two at the weekend,

Owls boss Brian Laws will be hoping for some consistently good performances from the tricky winger after two superb showings, and it's places like Palace away where he really needs to shine.

Head-to-Head:

Palace wins: 14

Wednesday wins: 21

Draws: 16

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 2-0 Palace

Hillsborough, 21/02/09

Wednesday left it late to bag the points against Palace as an 80th minute Sean McAllister strike and 90th minute Leon Clarke effort saw Wednesday out 2-0 winners on Neil Warnock's return to Sheffield.

v Derby County (A) - 03/10/09

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