Sheffield Wednesday vs Stoke predictions: Owls to punish Potters

- Sheffield Wednesday have won three and drawn three of their last seven home games
- Stoke have lost five of their last seven away fixtures
- Recommended bet: Sheffield Wednesday to win

There was some rare optimism in the Potteries when Stoke, who have failed to finish in the top half of the Championship since being relegated from the Premier League in 2018, appointed Steven Schumacher in December. 

However, despite his exploits with Plymouth, Schumacher’s start to life in Stoke has been a disaster and the Potters are still in a relegation battle, just three points above Saturday’s opponents Sheffield Wednesday, who are in the dropzone.

The Owls are in 22nd, but have shown some signs of life in recent weeks and they will be keen to get Hillsborough rocking as they aim to land this six-pointer on Saturday. 

Team news

Momo Diaby, Ian Poveda and Juan Delgado are all out for the hosts. Will Vaulks provided two assists off the bench to complete a comeback against Norwich in the week and will be pushing for a start. 

Ryan Mmaee, Lynden Gooch and Ben Pearson are in the visitors’ treatment room. Schumacher will likely rotate the pack after a bruising 3-0 defeat in the week, with Jordan Thompson and Sead Haksabanovic two of those who could come back into the starting XI.

The stats

Sheffield Wednesday have won three and drawn three of their last seven home games, only losing to title-chasing Leeds in that run.

Stoke have lost five of their last seven away games, going down at relegation rivals Swansea and Blackburn during that time.

The Potters have failed to win at Hillsborough in their last five visits, drawing four times and losing once in a run dating back to 2005.

Both teams to score has been a winning bet in three of the Owls’ last five home games.

Sheffield Wednesday won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in December, while Stoke have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 games.

Prediction

Stoke are in real danger of relegation, which would be disastrous as it would likely bring an early end to the Schumacher project before it has even really begun. 

A 3-0 loss at Swansea in the week was humiliating and they will need some major improvement to get back to winning ways immediately as they head to Sheffield Wednesday for a huge six-pointer. 

It is difficult to see the Potters taking the points in Yorkshire, though, given the Owls have lost just one of their last eight home games in a run which has included draws with high-flying Norwich and Coventry. 

They look far more solid under Danny Rohl and actually won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in December, suggesting they may be set to do the double over the faltering Potters, who have lost five of their last seven away games. 

It will no doubt be a tight affair — five of the last six Championship meetings between the pair have stayed under 2.5 goals — but slight preference is for the hosts, who have been using the Hillsborough atmosphere to their advantage in recent weeks and can get the crowd on side again by beating the Potters in this massive six-pointer. 

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