Preview: Owls v Derby

Wednesday get a second bite of the cherry tonight when former Owls boss Paul Jewell brings his Derby County side to Hillsborough for the FA Cup 3rd round replay clash.

Goals from Mark Beevers and former Ram Marcus Tudgay put the Owls in to a 2-0 lead in the original clash, before the rock-bottom Rams bagged two to make sure the tie went to a replay, with the victors bagging a home clash with Preston in the 4th round.

Brian Laws told the Sheffield Star:


'Francis Jeffers was feeling his ankle a bit ... in him and Akpo Sodje we are missing two quality strikers. When you get only limited chances in a game, you hope that your strikers are going to take them.

'At the moment, and with every game that goes by, we haven't got a settled partnership, and it shows.

'Franny was down to play against Cardiff but with him feeling his ankle we felt it was too big a risk to play him.

'We haven't got that consistency up front, and it's affecting us. We have to keep it tight in games and when an opportunity comes along we have to take it.'

Wednesday are set to be without their two main strikers in Francis Jeffers and Akpo Sodje with the duo picking up injuries ahead of the visit of the Rams.

The news means Leon Clarke is likely to get the nod in attack once again after his move to Southend United fell through, and the striker wasn't given permission to play in the earlier rounds of the competition with the Shrimpers.

New signing Ronnie Wallwork is ineligible to play for the Owls after making the move from West Brom, while Frank Simek will miss out.

The midfielder has long been linked with a move to Pride Park but could well prove the difference for the Owls in progressing to the 4th round.

Wednesday may have their injury problems with Rams boss Paul Jewell has similar problems to naming his starting line-up for the clash tonight.

Jewell has strengthened his side during the January transfer window but Derby will have to do without new arrivals Robbie Savage, Hossam Ghaly, Laurent Robert and Emanuel Villa who are all cup-tied.

Former Celtic man Kenny Miller is also a big doubt for the Rams, along with Darren Moore, but Rob Earnshaw could start.

The hot prospect has long been linked with a move away from Pride Park but has so far failed to turn in his usual top-notch performances in the Premier League. He'll still be the biggest threat to the Owls' goal.

Head-To-Head:

Wednesday wins: 41
Derby wins: 41
Draws: 32

Last Time Out:

Derby 2-2 Wednesday

FA Cup 3rd Round - 06/01/08

Wednesday threw away a two-goal lead at Pride Park following goals from Mark Beevers and Marcus Tudgay. Kenny Miller and Giles Barnes levelled for the hosts to take the tie to a replay.

Current Form:

Wednesday: L-D-W-L-D

Derby: L-D-L-L-L

Previous Line-Ups:

Wednesday: Grant, Bullen, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr, Whelan, O'Brien, Esajas (Johnson 40), Watson (Wallwork 46), Tudgay, Clarke (Burton 75). Subs Not Used: Wood, Small.

Derby: Price, Mears, Davis, Todd, Mills, Fagan, Savage, Ghaly (Macken 85), Robert (Edworthy 59), Villa (Teale 71), Barnes. Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Lewis.

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