Sheffield Wednesday v Palace

Hillsborough, Saturday 3.00pm

Crystal Palace

Team news

Sheffield Wednesday are currently in 21st place, just one point above the relegation zone, and unbeaten in their last three home games.

Wednesday’s recent signing, Shefki Kuqi, is rated as doubtful ahead of Saturday’s game. The Finnish international pulled a muscle during training last week and it is not yet known whether he will recover on time.

Matt Hamshaw was substituted after picking up a knock in the midweek derby draw against Sheffield United, however he is expected to be fit enough to start.

Meanwhile, Derek Geary should be back in the starting line up after having missed the Owls’ last game through suspension.

Trevor Francis will be forced to make a few changes to the team which lost 3-1 to Coventry on Tuesday night.

Central defenders Tony Popovic and Kit Symons will miss the trip to Sheffield due to groin strains after both were forced to be substituted on Tuesday. This could mean a recall to the starting line up for out-of-favour defenders Gregg Berhalter and Dean Austin.

Another injury casualty is Jamie Smith, who had to have six stitches after picking up an ankle injury against Coventry. It is feared that Smith could be out for at least two weeks which is bound to be a big blow for the right midfielder who just recently had returned from a lengthy injury.

Captain Hayden Mullins will be serving a one-match ban and will also not take part in Saturday’s game. This should see Simon Rodger start in the centre of midfield after Palace’s current longest-serving player put in an impressive performance as a second half sub against Coventry.

With the various injuries and suspension hitting the squad hard, Francis could well chose to start with a 4-4-2 formation. This would once again mean a place on the subs' bench for American international Jovan Kirovski, with the ex-Arsenal pairing of Julian Gray and Tommy Black likely to play on the left and right wings respectively.

Sheffield Wednesday - league stats

Full league table

Sheffield Wednesday - current form

Full form table

Our away record v Sheffield Wednesday

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
10/10/2001	League Cup	Sheffield Wednesday	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
29/09/2001	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 1	Sheffield Wednesday
14/04/2001	League	Sheffield Wednesday	4 - 1	Crystal Palace
04/11/2000	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 1	Sheffield Wednesday
10/05/1998	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 0	Sheffield Wednesday

All time results

One to watch

Gerald Sibon

The Owls top scorer has been one of the few shinng lights in what has so far, been a dismal season for the Sheffield club. Their top scorer, he uses his height well in the air and shows a surprisingly deft touch when the ball is at his feet. After getting the Wednesday fans on his side, after a troubled start to his Hillsbrough career, Sibon will be looking to fire his team further away from the relegation spot!

Last meeting

English League Cup - Round 3

Sheff Wed 2 (0) (AET) Westwood 68 Crane 114 C Palace 2 (1) Rodger 11 Riihilahti 105 Sheff Wed win 3 - 1 on penalties

10-10-2001

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Bromby, Geary, Westwood, Maddix, Quinn, Haslam, Soltvedt, Morrison, Bonvin (Crane,81), Di Piedi Subs not used: Stringer, McLaren, Hamshaw, Donnelly,

C Palace: Clarke, Smith (Austin,76), Rodger (Hopkin,99), Popovic, Vickers, Mullins, Riihilahti, Gray, Kirovski, Freedman (Black,73), Morrison Subs not used Kolinko, Thomson,

Bookings: Crane, Di Piedi, Geary, Quinn (Sheff Wed) Gray, Morrison, Mullins, Riihilahti, Rodger (C Palace)

Attendance: 8796

Referee: M J Jones (Chester)

Prediction league

0 members have predicted for this game so far.

Make your prediction on this game

Away travel info

Click here