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GOTW: Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough

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Welcome to the second – and penultimate – post of October 2018.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote anything, but although we’re already just over  a quarter of the way through the season something statistically significant may have happened: only the current top six are on course to make the playoffs. I wouldn’t expect to see something like that until much nearer the end of the season. 

As it stands, any of the top four could be in pole position at the end of this round of games and with another midweek programme next week the overall situation still looks pretty fluid. A stat that’s worth considering: only Leeds and Sheffield United have played fewer than three games against their immediate rivals for promotion. On the other hand Middlesbrough have already played four games against the other five team in the top six.

Anyway, without any further ado, here’s the game of the week – a televised Yorkshire derby!

Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough

(this evening, 7:45pm, Sky Sports Football/Main Event)

After having predicted another season of slow decline from Wednesday, I’m now going to both eat my words based on their recent performances. They’ve suffered only one home defeat in their last ten (although they’ve drawn the last three at Hillsborough – blowing leads against Leeds and WBA) and only two reverses in their last ten at all venues. Before I get too carried away, I’d still be a bit wary of their defence though: they’ve conceded in nine of their last ten matches.

Middlesbrough’s recent home defeat by Nottingham Forest was their first loss at the Riverside since last season’s playoffs, but before anyone writes Tony Pulis’ side off they should remember that they’ve only lost twice away from home since the end of January. Stopping Boro from scoring is imperative but as you just read, that’s not exactly Sheffield Wednesday’s strength right now.

HTH: Wednesday have won three of the last five games at Hillsborough, but haven’t recorded a victory since two goals in two minutes gave them a 2-0 will in February 2015.

Verdict: there’s only been one away win in the eight games between the current top six so far this season, but half of those games ended all square. I think a draw is highly likely. Incidentally, my GOTW record so far: two home wins, two draws, two away wins.

Other games to follow this weekend are both at the bottom, where Paul Clement and Nigel Atkins will both be attempting to avoid being the next manager without a job:

Hull v Preston: the Tigers have lost four of their last five, but after four consecutive defeats Preston have picked up four points from the last six and could be poised to make one of those impressive runs similar to the one last season that took Millwall from flirting with the drop to dreaming of the Premier League. Talking of which…

Reading v Millwall: this will be Reading’s 20th league game since the end of March and they’ve won precisely three of them: two of those victories were against Preston. After six defeats in seven games, Millwall are unbeaten this month.

The other televised games are between Blackburn and Leeds (noon Saturday, Sky Sports Football red button) and Derby v Sheffield United (5:30pm Saturday, Sky Sports Football/Main Event). Both of those look as if they might be worth watching, although the game from Ewood Park will be overshadowed by the clash between Jose Mourinho’s former employers that’s also being shown on Sky at more or less the same time.

Finally this week, Brentford appointed Thomas Frank as manager following the departure of Dean Smith to former Premier League outfit Aston Villa. The Dane had previously managed at Brondby in Denmark, but has no previous managerial experience in the UK.  And we all know what happened to the last Brentford manager who had a similar record .

I’ll be back be next weekend.


Source: http://www.buzzinchampionshipfootball.co.uk/gotw-sheffield-wednesday-v-middlesbrough/4478


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