Sheffield Wednesday look to create a cupset against Brentford at Hillsborough in the third round of 2025-26 FA Cup.
Victory would see the Owls avoid suffering consecutive third-round exits since 2008-09 & 09-10 seasons, whilst Brentford seek to move beyond this stage for the first time since 2021-22 season
Team News
Yan Valery is available for Sheffield Wednesday following Tunisia’s exit at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Dom Iofra is ruled out with a groin injury suffered in their 3-0 loss at QPR in the Championship last weekend, whilst Harry Amass has been recalled from his loan by his parent club, Manchester United.
George Brown (foot), Guilherme Siqueira (Achilles), Di’Shon Bernard (knee), Ernie Weaver (foot), Ike Ugbo (hamstring), Liam Cooper and Olaf Kobacki (both groin) remain absent.
Brentford have no fresh injury concerns following their 3-0 victory at home to Sunderland in the Premier League.
Dango Ouattara has been granted a few days off of rest following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, having exited at the Round of 16 stage with Burkina Faso.
Frank Onyeka (international duty), Fabio Carvalho, Josh Dasilva and Antoni Milambo (all ACL) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Wednesday host Brentford at Hillsborough on Saturday 10 January at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Sheffield Wednesday’s first FA Cup meeting against Brentford.
- Brentford have lost both of their two previous visits to Sheffield Wednesday in all cup competitions (L2), which were by 2-0 and 2-1 results in League Cup respectively.
- Sheffield Wednesday have won two of their last five FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition (W2, L3).
- Since Brentford became a Premier League club in 2021-22 season, they won their only previous FA Cup away trip to EFL opposition which came at this stage in January 2022 in a 4-1 win at Port Vale.
Prediction
With injuries crippling Sheffield Wednesday’s squad and having suffered a heavy loss at QPR, this is going to be a tough game for them as they really could of done with a cup run given that relegation to League One is a near-certainty barring a miracle.
Brentford though are in complete contrast to the Owls in terms of squad fitness and form so this is theirs to lose despite their poor cup record at Hillsborough, although I do expect Keith Andrews to rotate his squad ahead of a tricky top-flight visit to Chelsea next weekend after clinically mauling Sunderland.
I however can’t help but see just one result coming unless Sheffield Wednesday find a way to pull off a cupset.
Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Brentford
Result: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Brentford