Opposition: Predicted line up – Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday face a slightly daunting trip to B9 to face in form Birmingham City on Saturday in what could be a crucial game for both sides.

With the memory of the Boxing Day match still fresh in both fans minds, Wednesday will be hoping to complete the double of the blue half of Birmingham.

Gary Rowett and his side will be wanting to grab revenge and strengthen their assault on the playoff places, in doing so they will weaken Wednesday’s playoff hopes as well.

Italian Fernando Forestieri was the chief tormentor back on boxing day, netting twice, once with a tap in and the second a swift break that was finished brilliantly from the corner of the box.

City did have their chances and on another day may have made the score line less flattering for the home side.

Carlos Carvalhal’s players have yet to be beaten in the Championship during in 2016, the same feet as the hosts Birmingham.

Under ex-Burton Albion boss Rowett, Blues have stabilised themselves and are now looking up rather than down the Championship table.

Blues are a side that is similar to Wednesday with pace, flair, experience and good old hard working player as well, it looks set to be a cracking promotion race clash between the two sides.

Below is the team that I (Ed) would send out to beat Birmingham City at St Andrews this Saturday, including the substitutes who can make an impact when needed.

GK: Westwood
RB: Hunt
CB: Loovens
CB: Hutchinson
LB: Pudil
CM: Lee
CM: Bannan
RAM: Wallace
LAM: Forestieri
ST: Hooper
ST: Nuhiu

Substitutes: Price, Palmer, Sasso, Matias, Joao, McGugan, McGeady

That line-up is not a big change to the side that played out a one all draw with Burnley on Tuesday evening.

Nuhiu proved against Burnley that top defenders in this division struggle to deal with his threat so he is the likely starter with Joao and his pace plus unpredictability used as a circa 70th minute substitute to hammer home (hopefully) our advantage.

Naming a side with Nuhiu and Hooper also give our midfield a focal point to hold the ball up and with Hooper a in-the-box finisher that will give the Owls the possibility of scoring different types of goals at St Andrews.

Adding Pudil and Hunt are two players with speed to hit a side on the counter attack and keep new loanee McGeady on the bench to come on and seize his moment when and if needed.

Blues and Owls fans, do you think this is a good line up that has been predicted by Sheffield Wednesday editor Ed? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!