Preview: Blackpool v Owls

Wednesday boss Alan Irvine has called for more of the same at Blackpool tonight as Wednesday look for rare back-to-back victories in the Championship.

With the clash, rearranged from the Christmas fixture schedule, being the only one in the Championship, victory or even just a point could see the Owls climb out of the bottom three.

It'd be a welcome climb up the table for Irvine and his troops as they look to build on Saturday's impressive performance in the 2-1 win at Barnsley.

But a trip to Bloomfield Road is never an easy prospect, and with Ian Holloway getting the Tangerine Army firing on all cylinders this season, it'll no doubt be tougher than ever.

Alan Irvine told the official SWFC website:

'It was a hard game for us on Saturday and the players are going to have to do that again, again and again between now and the end of the season. The Championship is unforgiving, both in terms of tough how the games are and how many there are.

'And Blackpool will be a big test. They are fantastic at home, with a record that is right up there with the best. Ian Holloway has done a terrific job, he has changed their style of play quite dramatically.

'They play 4-3-3 and are very good at it. They play out from the back and through the middle of the park and put you under a lot of pressure. We will have to work every bit as hard on Tuesday as we did at the weekend and keep our shape all over the pitch.'

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will have to decide whether to stick or twist his side after they held QPR to a 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road at the weekend.

Holloway could well promote striker Ben Burgess to the first eleven after the former Hull City man could only manage the bench in their clash with the R's at the weekend.

But in good news for Wednesday, Holloway will be without star man Hameur Bouazza, who's away on international duty with Algeria.

Stephen McPhee and Billy Clarke will also miss out for the hosts, both with injuries.

The Wednesday defence, so impressive at Oakwell on Saturday, will have to keep their eye firmly on Adam, who can cause any defence in the Championship a problem on his day. The Scottish midfield man can also chip in with the odd goal or two.

Alan Irvine is set to stick with the same eleven that saw off Barnsley at the weekend.

The new Owls boss was full of praise for his troops following the three points at Oakwell, and he's set to keep faith with the same starting eleven in the hope that they repeat their form against Blackpool.

Francis Jeffers is still out with a hamstring injury, although Leon Clarke returned to training on Monday and will be no doubt pushing himself to give Irvine some options in attack.

Jermaine Johnson will be asked to lead the line again after his man-of-the-match showing at the weekend.

The jet-heeled Jamaican put in arguably his performance of the season at Oakwell, combining his pace and trickery with good old fashioned hard-work - and it paid off. More of the same tonight and the Blackpool defence will be in for a tough time.

Head-to-Head:

Blackpool wins: 24

Wednesday wins: 37

Draws: 13

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 1-1 Blackpool

Hillsborough - 26/12/08

Alan Gow put the visitors ahead with a penalty minutes into the second half before Bartosz Slusarski provided the equaliser less than ten minutes later to give both sides a share of the spoils.

Form:

Blackpool: D-D-L-W-L

Wednesday: W-L-D-L-L

v Peterborough United (H) - 23/01/10

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