- Birmingham are unbeaten on their last four trips to Hillsborough
- Sheff Wed have gone six games without a victory
- Recommended bet: Birmingham Draw no bet

Sheffield Wednesday’s survival hopes took a massive hit when they lost 4-0 away to fellow strugglers Huddersfield last Saturday and there is an urgent need for a response when the Owls take on Birmingham at Hillsborough.

Danny Rohl’s side are eight points adrift of safety and nine below sixth-bottom Birmingham, who have shown improvement since installing Tony Mowbray as their third permanent manager of the campaign.

Birmingham took four points from their first two league games under Mowbray and they performed well for large parts of last Saturday’s narrow 1-0 loss away to promotion-chasing West Brom.

Team news

 Wednesday will revert to a first-choice line-up after making nine changes for Tuesday’s FA Cup fourth round replay at Coventry, which they lost 4-1.

The Owls will be without John Buckley (shoulder) and Dominic Iorfa (leg), but Callum Paterson (head) is getting closer to full fitness having been absent since Boxing Day.

Blues goalkeeper John Ruddy (knock) is a doubt, while Dion Sanderson (ankle), Alfie Chang (knee), George Hall (hamstring) and Cody Drameh (toe) are ruled out.

The stats

Wednesday have won just one of their last nine fixtures against Birmingham.

The Owls have not won any of their last six matches and they have conceded four goals in each of their last two fixtures, while they are the lowest scorers in the division with just 22 goals scored.

Birmingham are unbeaten on their last four trips to Hillsborough, but have lost their last two matches without scoring a goal.

Four of Birmingham’s last five fixtures have generated at least three goals.

Prediction

Birmingham have looked a more accomplished side since Mowbray’s arrival a month ago and they can ease their relegation fears by defeating the Owls in south Yorkshire.

The Blues were unbeaten in their first three games under Mowbray and there were positives to take from the recent losses away to Leicester (3-0) and West Brom (1-0) in the FA Cup and the Championship respectively.

City won the shot count in both of those defeats and they might have better luck against the Owls, who appear on course for an immediate return to League One.

Wednesday perked up between December and New Year’s Day, winning five of eight league games, but they have failed to win over the last five weeks and were hammered 4-0 at Huddersfield last Saturday.

The Owls are losing touch with the teams they need to catch and their problems look set to increase with a home defeat this weekend.

Back Birmingham Draw no bet at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet

Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!

Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!

Predict the score of all six LiveScore 6 fixtures for your chance to win. 18+, UK/Ireland residents only, T&Cs apply.