Sheffield Wednesday are hoping for their third consecutive win this weekend to boost their team up the league table and strengthen their chances at the playoffs.
The Owls will be returning to Hillsborough Stadium this Saturday to play against Preston North End, with the match kicking off at 12.30pm.
Ahead of tomorrow’s game, Danny Röhl, Wednesday’s Manager, said: “The big difference [last season] was about expectations and league position. Every point, every win was outstanding for us. The expectation is higher. The fans will want to see goals, they want to see nice football.”
Preston North End will also be desperate to seal the victory to end their losing streak, after failing to claim a win for the eighth time in a row against West Brom last Saturday.
The team are just three points out of the relegation zone, meaning a win for Preston North End is as crucial as ever.
Last week’s away game win over Derby County saw Wednesday reach the top-half of the table at 12th, putting them six places ahead of this weekend’s opponents.
Despite being more secure in this season’s league standings, the team must improve their goal difference to surpass Norwich City, Millwall, and Bristol City, who lead only on goals scored in the league table.
Röhl said: “We want to take points now, we have a good week ahead of us. Two home games with the opportunity to take six points. We want to win games, it doesn’t matter if it’s home or away.”
This game could be a daunting prospect for Sheffield Wednesday, as PNE have had the upper hand in the last five encounters between the teams, winning three of the games.
Historically, Preston have won 46 matches against Wednesday, who have won 45.
Yan Valery, 25, wingback for Sheffield Wednesday, spoke on Thursday: “The last game wasn’t our best game on the ball or in different areas on the pitch. But these types of games we would have lost at the start of the season, but now it’s all about mentality and fighting together and not giving up.”
He stressed that this game is vital in Sheffield Wednesday’s success, and could easily determine whether the team rises or falls in the table.
Following a recent decline in home results, Valery also spoke about the impact that fans have on the matches, stating that Wednesdayites are often louder at away games than the home fans.
Valery discussed visiting hospitals and ill children this week, an initiative the club is committed to continuing before Christmas to spread joy.
Watch the video below to hear what he had to say.
