Sheffield Wednesday host Southampton at Hillsborough in the opening match of 2023-24 Sky Bet Championship season.
This is Sheffield Wednesday’s first Championship fixture since May 2021, whilst Southampton are back in the second tie for the first time in 11 years.
Team News
Sheffield Wednesday will be without new signing, Bambo Diaby as the defender serves the last of a four-match which he picked up in April’s 4-2 loss to Swansea whilst playing for Preston at the time.
Several new signings could be in contention for their debut appearance including; Reece James, Juan Delgado and Ashley Fletcher.
Southampton will be without winger, Kamaldeen Sulemana after he returned from international duty for Ghana with a minor injury.
Sekou Mara (unspecified) is a doubt whilst Romeo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse are set to feature, despite the duo having been subject of bids from Premier League club in recent weeks.
Tino Livramento meanwhile is unavailable because he is completing a transfer to Newcaste, following weeks of negotiations.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Wednesday host Southampton at Hillsborough in a 8pm BST kick-off on Friday 4 August, live on Sky Sports.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in four of their last six league meetings against Southampton (W2, D2, L2).
- Southampton are unbeaten in five of their last six visits to Sheffield Wednesday (W3, D2, L2).
- Wednesday have kept clean sheets in two of their last three home games against Southampton (W2, L1).
- Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in four of their last five opening weekend fixtures in a new season (W2, D2, L1), during which they kept just two clean sheets.
- None of Southampton’s last 14 permanent managers have won their opening matches in charge (D5, L9), since Paul Sturrock oversaw a 2-0 win at home to Liverpool in March 2004.
Prediction
Having fought their way back into the Championship via the dramatic League One Play-Offs last season, Sheffield Wednesday certainly face an interesting test of their current quality off the back of just four goals and one win from seven friendly fixtures in pre-season.
The Owls though do have a manager who has experience at this level but they will certainly need the home crowd to play their part, especially if they’re to get the season off to a strong start.
Southampton meanwhile have done well to hold onto the majority of their squad although Livramento will be a huge loss at right-back, especially given that their defence was their downfall last season and there doesn’t seem to have been much improvement in pre-season.
One positive though is that the Saints have a new manager in Russell Martin who plays a possession-based style, so it will take time for the team to adapt but they do have the players capable of at least starting off the season with a strong result if can get at Wednesday’s defence and score well.
Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Southampton
Result: Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Southampton
Leave a Reply