Sheffield Wednesday | Grimsby |
Introducing the...........Owls |
Our good friends from South Yorkshire don't really need much introudction. We don't really like them, they don't really like us - or so they say, constant holidays to Cleethorpes may suggest otherwise. Onto the team itself, of course the Owls were relegated with Town last season. The fate of both teams was more or less sealed during that 0-0 bore draw last April. Manager Chris Turner has spent most of the season, much like Paul Groves, in making his own team. In came former Graeme Lee and Paul Smith, both from former club Hartlepool, as Turner looked for some familiar faces. Joining them as new arrivals were Stockport 'keeper Ola Tidman, Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe and some chap named Terry Cooke. Wolves striker Adam Proudlock joined earlier this month for a fee of £150,000. The season hasn't really gone as Turner would have hoped. An inconsistent start, coupled with two consecutive defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton, has seen his team placed in mid-table, three points above the Mariners. Although that at this stage of the season mid-table is still only five points off leaders Port Vale. |
Team News |
Turner will have to make do without Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi after he was loaned to Ipswich on Friday. French loanee Guylain N'Dumbu may well take his place. Wingers Richard Evans and Matt Hamshaw have been ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage. Win Odds - 8/11 | Simon Ford is definitely out of the game with a groin problem. Mike Edwards will get another chance to impress after a steady perfomance against Chesterfield. Des Hamilton is back in contention but worryingly he could replace Graham Hockless in midfield. Win Odds - 3/1 |
Likely Teams |
| Formation: 4-4-2 Pressman, Haslam, Barry-Murphy, Smith, Bromby, Cooke, Smith, McLaren, Quinn, Proudlock, N'Dumbu | Formation 4-4-2 Davison, McDermott, Barnard, Crane, Edwards, Cas, Hockless, Daws, Campbell, Onuora, Boulding |
Top Scorers |
Alan Quinn (3) | Michael Boulding (6) | ||||
Irishman Quinn was the shining light for the Owls last season, a statement backed up with the Player of the Year award he won. The 24-year-old is a real danger with the ball and capable of destroying teams with his dribbling and long range shooting. First Goal Odds - 12/1 |
Michael did play a vital part in the win though, alongside Iffy Onuora. The duo's link up play allowed Cas, Hockless and Campbell to become more involved. Boulding's assist for Hockless' goal showed the improvement in his all round game. First Goal Odds - 7/1 |
Bad Boys |
Alan Quinn (5) | Derek Geary (1) | Tony Crane (2) | Marcel Cas (1) |
Derek Geary (2) | Jason Crowe (2) | Des Hamilton (1) | |
Paul McLaren (2) | Marcel Cas (2) | Iain Anderson (1) | |
Adam Proudlock (2) | |||
Graeme Lee (2) |
Star Man - Adam Proudlock | Remember Me? Ryan Green | ||||
Broke into the Wolves team as a youngster with the hopes of a new Steve Bull around his neck. The 22-year-old never lived up to that billing and was sent out on loan to Nottm Forest, Tranmere and the Owls as part of his developement. Paul Groves did try to loan him the season before last but proved unsuccessful. Chris Turner decided to part with some of his transfer budget earlier this month for the frontman to take him to Hillsborough on a a permanent basis. |
Wolves full back Ryan Green looked to be the answer after impressing in trial games. Lawrence deemed him not good enough though and signed Alan Neilson instead. Green went onto Millwall before a short stay with the Owls. The 22-year-old moved to Conference leaders Hereford in the summer and has been an ever present this season as Graham Turner's men look for a Football League return. |
