Preston – Sheff.Wed.

Preston are in the middle at 12^th place, but just five points far from play-off zone. They’re in the good run of results that recovered their pre-season ambitions. They have one home defeat of last nine encounters, winning top sides like Sheff.Utd. (2-1), Cardiff (3-0) and in last round Nott.Forest (3-2). I think team possess enough quality and with recent results (especially after first half display vs. Forest and 3-0 for 45 min.) they’re focused to keep the momentum and attack play-off. Defender Youl Mawene, left-back Tommy Wiliams and striker Jon Parkin are in doubt and will be assessed. Preston are unbeaten in 15 home league matches against the Wednesday.

 

Owls made a good start under new manager Alan Irvine (ex Preston), but very fast backed to their downtrend. They have four defeats in last five away games (one draw), with just one goals scored in those and ten conceded. That one draw came in the previous rounds vs. Swansea on the road. Wednesday were focused on defending, organized and eventually defended a point. Except fighting spirit, they don’t have to offer too much and I expect their same approach tonight. Additional strength will be Irvine who knows in details most of tonight’s opponent players. The Owls have failed to score in 15 Championship matches this season - more than any other team and scored 13 goals in total (just Peterborough scored less). midfielder Sean McAllister and defender Lewis Buxton are in doubt.

 

Those two clubs will have the opposite motives, but with the same intensity. Difference is Preston is actually in a good shape, while Wednesday usually struggling to keep 0-0. Quality difference is obvious, atmosphere in Preston is very good and I see them as winners. Pinnacle offer 2.07. Home win.

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Will post one gamble before the kick-off.

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Sheff Wed 0 - 2 Swansea

Darren Pratley's two goals condemned Sean McAuley to a losing start as Sheffield Wednesday caretaker boss.
The midfielder took just five minutes to put Swansea in charge, Gorka Pintado laying the ball on for Pratley to take in his stride and beat Lee Grant. 
Wednesday rallied and it took a good save from Dorus de Vries to keep out Jermaine Johnson's fierce shot. 
But the Owls then struggled and Pratley struck a second goal, meeting Nathan Dyer's low cross at the near post. 
Wednesday parted company with Brian Laws last weekend but McAuley was unable to inspire an improvement as Swansea maintained their push for promotion. 
The Owls are now winless in the last 10, having lost the last six and face the harsh reality of relegation if they do not make drastic improvements.
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QPR 1 - 1 Sheff Utd
New Queens Park Rangers manager Paul Hart saw his side draw with Sheffield United in his first game in charge.
Mikele Leigertwood opened the scoring for the home side with a right-footed strike from the edge of the area after just two minutes. 
Toni Kallio set up Richard Cresswell to fire home from close range for the equaliser six minutes later. 
Ben Watson headed against the crossbar in injury-time for the home side but both teams had to settle for a point. 
QPR manager Paul Hart:
"I thought we played extremely well. In the second half we were excellent, it was wave after wave. 
"I work with players to try to help them improve. I'm here to steady the ship. 
"I think this is a great club and it's a privilege to be working here." 
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell:
"We talked about it in the week, it's not the time to be playing a team when a new manager walks through the door. 
"The players have got to show them what we are about. 
"All the talk was about QPR but my players were very resilient and did a professional job."
www.bbc.co.uk

Sheffield Wednesday - Swansea City

Owls have sacked the manager Brian Laws and appointed Sean McAuley as a caretaker. In his first statement he announced the intention to notice a win that should launch them in the middle of table security and return a part of self confidence in the dressing room. But, won’t be so easy. Currently Wednesday occupy 22^nd place, first below the line. They’re without a win in nine matches, have four consecutive defeats in a row, four consecutive at home and failed to score in last five games! No injury worries for McAuley and he’s expected to make some changes in starting eleven.

 

Swansea are tough Championship side which main characteristics are tight play and strong defense. Main problem for them is lack of scored goals lately and big boost is return of striker Stephen Dobie who’s fit again after an ankle strain. In the previous round Swansea have ended their unbeaten run of eleven home games, losing vs. Nott. Forest 0-1. On the road, in last seven games have just one defeat (against giants Newcastle 0-3). They have to bounce back to stay in play-off zone and they probably couldn’t find the better chance than today’s opponent. Boss Paulo Sousa will be again without skipper defender Garry Monk who has a calf injury, while midfielder Mark Gower is still sidelined with a knee problem. Will be stronger for mentioned Dobie and midfielder Tom Butler.

 

Home side isn’t a club that should relegate, but their recover can’t be immediate. Players are in mental crisis, new caretaker will probably make some improvements, but actually I can not imagine them winning today. My only concern about this game is the info Swansea have never won at Wednesday. So, dnb 2.

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Manchester Utd. - Aston Villa

Wednesday again made me feel bad. Incredible round in Championship, with just single home win (Sheffield U. 2 - 0 Ipswich T.).

No big speeches today. Liverpool took the first place and that's not funny. Two defeats in a row, Vidic, Rooney and Scholes are suspended, Brown and Berbatov won't play, too. Some English tabloids wrote about bad relationship between Ferguson and Rooney. Club is under big pressure and I'm sure they're all pissed off. Today's game has the weight of Champions League final. Win will put the things on right place, other result will make panic and launch Liverpool as a main title favorite.

Aston Villa had a great run of results. Then crushed under the pressure of big expectations (announced by themselves, btw.). Two draws and six defeats from last eight competitive games! Uefa cup is reality, not Champions league. 

Full recover today, or short brake from betting. Pinnacle offers 1.46 for home win, 2.00 for over and I guess handicap is about 2.30. Home win, handicap and over!

Norwich 0-1 Sheff Wed

Jermaine Johnson's deflected shot earned a deserved away victory for Sheffield Wednesday and left Norwich a point clear of the relegation zone. 
The Owls took the lead when Johnson's strike deflected off defender Jon Otsemobor early in the second half. 
An anxious Carrow Road crowd saw David Mooney's 84th-minute equaliser ruled out after a foul in the build-up. 
But Wednesday clung on for the three points after defender Tommy Spurr was sent off for his second yellow card. 

Norwich manager Bryan Gunn: 
"To be honest we didn't play well in the first half, while at the same time Sheffield Wednesday played some relaxed football. 
"After the break I didn't think there was much in it but unfortunately they've had a shot which has taken a deflection to beat our goalkeeper. 
"There was no ranting and raving in the dressing room afterwards, because we need the players to believe that we can get enough points between now and the end of the season to ensure our safety." 

Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws: 
"I don't think anyone would disagree that we deserved to win. 
"We have been exceptionally good in our last four away games and deserved to win all of them in my opinion. 
"Today was no different and this time we got our just rewards. We dominated the first half, passed and moved really well and had 10 strikes on goal." 


Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Doherty, Bertrand, Croft (Lee 68), Clingan, Lappin, Carney (Smith 82), Gow (McDonald 82), Mooney. 
Subs Not Used: Nelson, Drury. 
Booked: Mooney. 
Sheff Wed: Grant, Buxton, Hinds, Wood, Spurr, Varney, McAllister, Potter, Johnson (Beevers 88), Tudgay, Jeffers (Sodje 82). 
Subs Not Used: Esajas, O'Connor, Simek. 

Sent Off: Spurr (89). 
Booked: Wood, Spurr. 
Att: 25,385 
Ref: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).
www.bbc.co.uk