|
The Match |
| The game will be the first time the two
teams have met in the League Cup, although we have crossed paths in
recent seasons in the league. This was when we were both in league 1 for
a couple of seasons but since then we have gone in opposite directions
with Wednesday in their second season in the Championship. |
|
The Owls |
|
 Manager
Paul Sturrock's first game in charge was coincidently against Wrexham in
September 2004 with the Owls running out 3-0 winners at the Racecourse.
Since then Sheffield climbed out of League One via the play offs in
Sturrock's first season in charge and consolidated their place in the
Championship last season. Sturrock's recognition as a manger came whilst he
guided Plymouth to two promotions but his tenure at then Premiership side
Southampton was a short affair lasting only five months before he took over
at Hillsborough.
Paul Sturock has targeted a striker as his main priority
after his main attacking option Stephen McLean went down with injury, which
leaves him without any fit strikers and their stand in, Wade Small, also
picked up a hamstring injury on the weekend! Sturrock was originally told
that there was no room in his budget to sign a loan player but following a
meeting last last week Sturrock was allowed to go out to sign a replacement
although he has been unable to do so prior to this game.
Sturrock's relationship with his Chief executive has been
strained of late with the manager criticising Dave Allen after he revealed
that the manger's contract would not be looked at until Christmas even
though it runs out at the end of the season. |
|
Past Encounters |
 |
|
Last 5 Meetings |
| Jan 05 Sheff Wed 4
Wrexham 0 |
| Sep 04: Wrexham 0
Sheff Wed 3 |
| Jan 04: Wrexham 1
Sheff Wed 2 |
| Aug 03: Sheff Wed 2
Wrexham 2 |
| Feb 82: Wrexham 0
Sheff Wed 1 |
The
teams last met in the 2004/05 season with Wednesday running out comfortable
3-0 winners in the game at the Racecourse and 4-0 in the return fixture at
Hillsborough.
In the previous season, the honours were shared with Wrexham
coming away from Hillsborough with a 3-2 win courtesy of goals from Dennis
Lawrence, Chris Llewellyn and Carlos Edwards.
Wednesday left Wrexham with all three points with a 2-1 win
with Brian Carey scoring for Wrexham in the second half. The
clubs have only met in the league before with Wednesday winning 8 times
compared to Wrexham's 4 and their have been 4 draws in the 16 games played. |
|
League Form Guide |
|
Team |
Last 5 Games |
League Position |
Form Position |
Last Win |
|
Wrexham |
DWDW |
6th |
6th |
Last Game |
|
Wednesday |
DLDW |
16th |
16th |
Last Game |
Sheffield Wednesday recorded their first win of the campaign with a 2-1 win
at Paul Sturrock's former club Plymouth on the weekend. The Owls started the
season with a goalless draw at Preston before returning home to a 1-0 defeat
against Luton. Their next match ended in a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley
before the win at Plymouth on the weekend.
Wrexham are unbeaten so far in the league this season with
two wins and two draws from the four games played. |
|
Bookies View |
|
Wednesday's Championship status sees them
odds on favourites with the Bookies with Labrokes offering 4/7 for the Owls
win. The draw is next at 11/4 with VC Bet and Sky Bet who are also pricing
the Wrexham win at 11/2. |
|
Team News |
|
Wrexham Team News:
Wrexham are forced into making another change in defence after Steve Evans
picked up a red card in the derby win over Chester on the weekend and is
suspended for this game. Denis Smith has the option to drop Danny Williams
back to defence and this will most likely happen if Darren Ferguson has
recovered from his toe injury. Other options in midfield will be to move
Mark Jones into the middle with Josh Johnson making his debut on the right
wing or alternatively start Mike Williams or Gareth Evans in the centre of
defence alongside Shaun Pejic.
Wrexham Squad (19): Ingham, Michael Jones, Spender, Roche,
Pejic, Gareth Evans, Mike Williams, Valentine, Danny Williams, Ferguson,
Crowell, Mackin, Mark Jones, Johnson, Done, Llewellyn, Roberts, Reed, Newby.
Wednesday Team News: Graham Coughlan is the major doubt for the Owls
after he has picked up a hamstring injury on the weekend. Goalkeeper Brad
Jones cannot play in the League Cup because of his terms of his loan
agreement from Middlesborough and this will mean a start for Chris Adamson
between the sticks. Wednesday are also without Wade Small but Lee Bullen is
available after completing his suspension. Also on the sidelines for
Wednesday are Deon Burton, Marcus Tudgay, Drew Talbot and Barry Corr.
Officials: The match referee is Neil Swarbrick from Lancashire and this
will be his second game of the season after booking two players in his first
match two weeks a go. |
|
League Cup Round 1 |
All ties are played to the finish on the night and if the
scores are level following 30 minutes of extra time then a penalty shoot out
will take place to determine the winner.
|
|
Accrington Stanley
1 Forrest 0 (Monday)
Birmingham v Shrewsbury
Blackpool v Barnsley
Bournemouth v Southend
Bristol Rovers v Luton
Burnley v Hartlepool
Bury v Sunderland
Cardiff v Barnet
Carlisle v Bradford
Cheltenham v Bristol City
Crystal Palace v Notts County
Doncaster v Rochdale
Grimsby v Crewe
Hereford v Coventry
Huddersfield v Mansfield
Hull v Tranmere
Leeds v Chester
Leicester v Macclesfield |
Millwall v
Gillingham
Milton Keynes Dons
v Colchester
Peterborough v
Ipswich
Plymouth v Walsall
QPR v Northampton
Rotherham v Oldham
Scunthorpe v Lincoln City
Stockport v Derby
Stoke v Darlington
Swansea v Wycombe
Swindon v Brentford
Brighton v Boston Utd (Wednesday)
Chesterfield v Wolverhampton (Wednesday)
Port Vale v Preston (Wednesday)
Sheff Wed v Wrexham (Wednesday)
Southampton v Yeovil (Wednesday)
Torquay v Norwich (Wednesday)
Leyton Orient v West Brom (Thursday) |
|
|
Venue Guide |
|
Address:
Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 1SW
Telephone Number:
0870 999 1867
Fax Number:
0114 221 2122 |
|
How to get there? |
| By Car:
Leave Wrexham on the A483 towards Chester picking up the A55, M53 and then
the M56 towards Manchester Airport. Leave the M56 at junction 3 picking up
the M60 in an anti-clockwise direction heading towards Stockport. At junction
21 turn right onto the M67 for 4 miles and then straight onto the A57. Go
forward at the lights onto the A628 and follow this road for almost 14 miles until you reach the
roundabout with the A616 where you take the third exit onto the A616. At the junction
with the A629 branch left and turn right at the t-junction onto the A629 and
then pick up the A61 heading towards Sheffield. Travel through Grenoside and
Wadsley Bridge and you will notice a shopping centre and the custom out of
town DIY stores on your left. Continue on the A61 passing under the railway
bridge and after travelling around the corner you should now be able to see
Hillsborough over the roof tops. To continue to the ground take the third
exit on the roundabout with the A6102 (signposted City Centre) into Leppings
Lane and the ground is on your left. Distance = 88 miles; time = 2 & 1/2 hours. By
Train:
Sheffield station is over two miles away from the ground and your best
bet is to catch a taxi on walk to the bus station across the road from
the station and catch a number 53 to Leppings Lane. Alternatively you
can catch a blue tram from the station to the town centre and then take
a yellow tram and this will drop you outside the away end on Leppings
Lane. Click here for the Rail
Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950. |
|
When you are there |
| Car Parking:
If
you arrive early then there is some street parking available and there is a
number of unofficial car parks off the A61 that cost in the region of £2.00
- £3.00. Look our for schools (such as the Chaucer School) and the Owlerton
greyhound stadium is only ten minutes away off the A61. Word of warning is that you can get held up significantly if you
park in the streets close to the ground and also be prepared for a steep
walk up the hill after the match if you use the car parks. The lesser of two
evils springs to mind!
Beer and Grub:
Good selection of
places to drink all conveniently located around the A61. The two pubs
popular with away fans are the Norfolk Arms and The Red Lion in Greenoside
on the A61. The downside is that both are located a good distance from the
ground. Closer to the ground just off the A61 before the railway bridge is
the Pheasant on Trafalgar Road and just past the bridge on Halifax Road is
the New Bridge Inn. On Wadsley lane (uphill from the Leppings Lane away end)
is the Horse and Jockey which also has the benefit of decent pies and is
designated the away pub by the police. Past the
ground heading towards the City centre is the New Barrack Inn located on the
A61 just before McDonalds. The locals are very friendly and you are made
very welcome. Heading this direction you will come across the Wadsley Jack
on Rural Lane and further on the Rose & Crown and both welcome away fans.
Pubs to avoid around Hillsborough are The Park, The Gate, The Ball, The
Shaky, Legends, The Travellers
and the Crown as they operate a strict 'home only' policy.
Cash Machines: Abbey National and
Halifax machine at Law Bros Service Station on Leppings Lane. Nat West
machine on Middlewood Road and this is just under a mile away from the
ground. |
|
How much to get in? |
|
Leppings
Lane Upper Tier: Adults £10, Concessions £5
|
|
Disabled Facilities |
| here are 88 spaces for wheelchairs plus
a further 88 for their helpers. There is also 58 spaces for ambulent supporters and headsets with radio
commentary is provided for visually impaired supporters. The contact at
Sheffield Wednesday is Pauline Bronks on 0114 221 2121 but Wrexham fans must
book in advance through Wrexham FC. In total there are 9 spaces available for
away supporters in the Lower West Stand but some seats have restricted views
for the helpers and are partially covered. There is limited parking in Parkside Road and parking spaces are normally booked with your match ticket.
Inside the ground their is 6 adapted toilets with alarm cords but the
catering outlets are not dedicated. |
|
Weather Forecast |
|
Rain with temperatures dropping to 10 degrees Celsius and a 5
mph south westerly wind. |
|
Round
One