Preview: Owls v Hartlepool

Wednesday will be looking to put their woeful start to their new Championship campaign behind them tonight as they look to progress to the third round of the Carling Cup.

The Owls will be favourites to progress to the next round against lower league opposition in Hartlepool, but the return of former bosses Danny Wilson and Chris Turner on the United team coach could see a potential upset in S6.

A 3-1 victory against Rotherham United got Wednesday through to the second round and Wednesdayites will be hoping for a similar scoreline this time around.

Danny Wilson told The Journal:

'The pressure will all be on them because nobody will be expecting anything of us. We can just go out and express ourselves.

'They`ll obviously be the favourites but I will say to the players we can go there and give them a good game. We will need a bit of luck because of their calibre but if we get that there`s no reason we can`t win.'

Wednesday will be short on attack options for the visit of the Monkey Hangers after Leon Clarke withdrew from the squad because of a stomach problem encountered in the 3-2 defeat at Charlton at the weekend.

Marcus Tudgay could be fit to return after recovering from a shoulder injury but new signing Francis Jeffers is still expected to be sidelined for the clash.

Wade Small will also be missing while Steve Watson won't be risked for the clash as Laws looks to get his squad in shape for the vital clash against Bristol City on Saturday.

The Owls' stand-in captain will be the first to admit he didn't have his best game at Charlton on Saturday but the striker is likely to be the biggest threat to the Hartlepool goal with limited attacking options available to Brian Laws.

Pool knocked out Brian Laws' former club Scunthorpe United in ther last round and will be hoping to cause another upset by knocking out more Championship opposition tonight.

Former Owl Richie Barker, Willie Boland and James Brown all took knocks for Hartlepool in their clash on Saturday but are expected to be fit enough to play against Wednesday.

Another former Owl in Ritchie Humphreys is also expected to feature for the visitors and could well prove to be the danger man in the Monkey Hangers' attack.

Ali Gib will be missing through suspension.

Humphreys will be keen to get one over on his former club and make amends for the play-off final heartbreak at Cardiff in 2005. The hitman has been a key player for 'Pool since joining and will be key to demolishing the Owls tonight.

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