Preview: Owls v City

THE hectic and crucial Easter fixture schedule continues for Wednesday on Easter Monday when Bristol City make the trip to Hillsborough.

The Owls go into the game on the back of an encouraging 1-1 draw at QPR on Saturday which stretched their unbeaten run to six matches - one of the better records at the bottom end of the Championship.

But Alan Irvine and his men will know that all that hard work at Loftus Road will go to waste if they fail to secure three vital points against the Robins at S6.

Wednesday need to make their home matches count if they're to avoid relegation this season and, with all due respect to Bristol City, they're one side who should be looking at three points from.

We all know it won't be easy though, so let another rollercoaster 90 minutes commence...

Owls boss Alan Irvine said, following the draw at QPR:

'We've now lost just once in eight games and that was away at West Brom, where I thought we were very unlucky.

'We now have to build on this performance and take it into the game this coming Monday against Bristol City.'

Irvine will have a welcome selection headache going into the visit of the Robins.

Lewis Buxton was brought back into the side to do a man-marking job on Adel Taarabt on Saturday, but that position is likely to be dropped tomorrow, with Buxton going in the same direction.

Irvine is likely to go with a more attacking approach, and Jermaine Johnson could well return to the starting eleven after a superb substitute appearance at Loftus Road.

That could leave the Owls with a host of options, including a return for Leon Clarke in attack, but it's likely that Irvine will continue with Luke Varney and Marcus Tudgay in attack.

The Owls have no fresh injury or suspension concerns following the clash against Rangers.

Varney may have failed to find the net at Loftus Road but his two goals in the last three outings have seen Wednesday pick up valuable points. The Owls need goals, and Varney seems the man most likely to get them of late.

Bristol City caretaker boss Keith Millen has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes, in performances at least, since taking over from the departing Gary Johnson at Ashton Gate.

The Robins drew 1-1 with promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest on Saturday and they'll travel to S6 in good spirits.

But they'll be without goalkeeper Dean Gerken, who suffered an injury in the stalemate with Forest and could be out for the rest of the season.

Stephen Henderson and Steve Collis will both be putting their hand up for selection to replace Gerken as the City number one for the trip to Hillsborough.

Other than Gerken's set-back, Bristol have no other fresh injury or suspension concerns for the match.

Campbell-Ryce has always caused Wednesday problems from his days with Barnsley, and it's likely to be more of the same at S6 on Saturday - Tommy Spurr will be in for a tough time at full-back.

Head-to-Head:

Wednesday wins: 23

ristol wins: 13

raws: 12

Last Time Out:

City 1-1 Wednesday

Ashton Gate, 31/10/09

Nicky Maynard put the hosts ahead just before the hour mark but Luke Varney's 75th minute strike gave the Owls something to show for their efforts at Ashton Gate earlier in the season.

Form:

Wednesday: D-D-W-D-D

Bristol: D-W-W-D-L

v Middlesbrough (A) - 10/04/10

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