Sheffield Wednesday meet Huddersfield Town in Round One of 2021-22 Carabao Cup in a mouth-watering Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough.
This clash will be the second First Round tie of this season’s competition after Bournemouth thrashed MK Dons on Saturday (31 July), with the winners advancing to the Second Round.
Team News
Sheffield Wednesday could hand Florian Kamberi his Owls debut after completing a season-long deal from Switzerland’s St Gallen on Friday (30 July).
Bailey Peacock Farrell and Lewis Wing could also make their competitive debuts after joining on loan earlier this week.
Huddersfield will be without Aaron Rowe after the winger suffered a foot injury in pre-season.
Rolando Aarons (knee) and Pipa (groin) are also ruled out for the Terriers.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Wednesday have won their only previous League Cup tie against Huddersfield in 1984-85 season, winning their home leg 3-0 before losing 2-1 in away leg but advanced 4-2 on aggregate.
- Huddersfield have exited League Cup at First Round stage in each of their last five campaigns as an EFL club, only advancing further in 2017/18 & 18/19 seasons by virtue of being in Premier League.
- Sheffield Wednesday have exited the League Cup at this stage just once in last six seasons.
- Huddersfield have lost three of their last four League Cup matches by 1-0 results.
- Sheffield Wednesday have lost just two of their last five home matches in League Cup (W5, L2), in which their walkover against Bury in First Round of 2018-19 competition counts as a win.
Prediction
Having enjoyed a hectic yet proper pre-season with mixed results despite losing key players like Adam Reach and Jordan Rhodes this summer, Sheffield Wednesday should be fully prepared for this match although two clean sheets in seven friendlies will be a slight concern tactically.
Huddersfield meanwhile haven’t exactly enjoyed a strong pre-season and have won just two of 12 away matches in all competitions in 2021, which they will be keen to put right here ahead of their new Championship campaign as well as end their poor form in this cup competition.
I however can see a draw coming here because neither team look particularly strong although my gut instinct wonders if Rhodes could spring a shock win for the Terriers against his former Owls.
Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Huddersfield Town
Result: Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town (Huddersfield Town win 4-2 on penalties)