Sheffield Wednesday Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 26/09/2003

Town make the short trip to Hillsbrough on Saturday in their first match of the season. Both teams were relegated from division one last season, but both have had indifferent starts to life in division two.

Recent Form

Sheffield Wednesday Facts

LAST SEASON

22nd in Division. One. Since their fall from the Premiership, Wednesday have struggled to adjust to the rigours of the football league and after trying their umpteenth manager in Chris Turner, they were unable to stave of relegation last year, after a dismal start to their season.

MANAGER

Chris Turner Former Wednesday goalkeeper who was installed as the Owls manager last year after previously managing Hartlepool and guiding them to the top of the third division. Unable to save the Owls last year, he needs a solid first season to keep the critics quiet.

TOP PLAYERS

Adam Proudlock Ex Wolves striker who recently put pen to paper on a permanent deal after having a loan spell with the club last season. Scored a spectacular goal against the Mariners against Wolves at Blundell Park a few years back, but has had a miserable past season or two at Molineux and now needs regular first team games.

Alan Quinn Has started to play to his potential under Chris Turner, and has now made the breakthrough into the Republic of Ireland squad. Never afraid to have a shot or run at defenders, Quinn has been captain for the Owls in the absence of Dean Smith.

Terry Cooke A man who needs little introduction, Cooke will undoubtedly be out to prove a point to Paul Groves on Saturday. Released by Town in the summer, Cooke signed a one year contract with Wednesday in the summer.

Grimsby Town Team News

The Mariners can expect to welcome back experience midfielder DES HAMILTON into the squad. He will, however, be lucky to displace either Daws or Campbell who both had excellent games last Saturday.

With Ford injured, Paul Groves will opt to stick with MIKE EDWARDS who impressed and scored as a substitute last week.

Elsewhere, the Mariner will be unchanged with IFY ONOURA continuing with MICHAEL BOULDING up front against the arch rivals of his main employers, Sheffield United.

MATTHEW HAMSHAW and RICHARD EVANS are certainly out after picking up major injuries in the week. Injury plagued Hamshaw has damaged his knee cartilage and will be out for up to six weeks. After edging his way into the first team reckoning, Evans has picked up a knee injury and will be out for three weeks.

Manager Chris Turner has promised to make changes after two successive defeats and could recall defender BRIAN BARRY MURPHY in defence. Up front meanwhile, SHEFKI KUQI may find himself on the bench at the expense of LLOYD OWUSU, after being pretty ineffective at Brighton last week. More changes could be made after boss Chris Turner slammed his players for their two losses last week, saying that "Some of the boys are stealing a living. We need to make changes"

Predicted Grimsby Team

Aidan Davison, John McDermott, Darren Barnard, Tony Crane, Mike Edwards, Marcel Cas, Graham Hockless, Nicky Daws, Stuart Campbell, Michael Boulding, Iffy Onoura.

Substitutes: Young, Darren Mansaram, Liam Nimmo, Des Hamilton, Jason Crowe

Predicted Sheffield Wednesday Team

Kevin Pressman, Steven Haslam, Brian Barry Murphy, Dean Smith, Leigh Bromby, Alan Quinn, Paul Smith, Paul McLaren, Terry Cooke, Adam Proudlock, Lloyd Owusu

Substitutes: Shefki Kuqi, Jon Beswetherick, Richard Wood, Eric Nixon,(GK), Sungu N'Dumbu

On This Day