The first leg of the semi-final of the Championship play-off told us very little about who will make it to Wembley for the chance to join Newcastle and Brighton in the Premiership next season. Out of the two teams, Huddersfield will be the most disappointed, not taking an advantage to Hillsborough could prove fatal to their dreams of making it to the showcase final.
There were some positives for the Terriers to take however, completely shutting out one of the most potent attacking sides in the Championship, despite being out of form and facing a Wednesday side in flying form, would have been the most pleasing aspect for their manager David Wagner, but the German coach will be anxious about facing their opponents in their own backyard, and could rue missing the opportunity of taking a lead, heading into an anxious and highly emotive game.
This game is one of the most important in both clubs history, a chance to join the elite and untold riches of the Premier League will be at the forefront of the players mind as they take to the field. A do or die fixture could see both sides throw caution to the wind and a high scoring game could be on the cards here, despite the goalless game at the John Smith's Stadium, the one off opportunity to make it to Wembley could encourage both managers to unshackle their players. Unfortunately for Huddersfield, that missed opportunity at home could harm them here. A 3-1 win for Sheffield Wednesday is 22/1 with Paddy Power.
Sheffield Wednesday
(Form Guide: WWWWLD)
The Owls will head into this home game in a confident mood, they have lost just six times in their own backyard in the league, including a irrelevant defeat to Fulham on the last day of the season, when they were already guaranteed a play-off place.
However, discipline could be a major factor in the high tension game, and The Owls have fallen foul of referees consistently this season, accumulating seven red cards and 74 yellows. Huddersfield will come to Hillsborough to disrupt and contain Wednesday and the frustration could boil over. A red card in the game is 3/1 with bet365.
The result on Sunday would have disappointed the Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal, despite being the visitors, they were huge favorites to come away from the game with a positive result, and he will urge his side to ensure that they dominate the game from the off. Sheffield Wednesday to score their first goal in the 21-30 minute period is 8/1 with Coral and Sheffield Wednesday to be 2-0 up at half-time is 14/1 with Coral.
It is difficult to look past Wednesday for the win here, and in Fernando Forestieri they have one of the divison's best attacking players. Their starman has been their most influential player during this season's campaign and he is 9/2 with William Hill to grab the games first goal and 9/1 with Paddy Power to score two or more.
Can Fernando Forestieri provide the breakthrough?
Huddersfield
(Form Guide:DDWLLD)
Huddersfield will head to Hillsborough in a defiant mood after a solid result on Sunday, against a Wednesday side full of goals, they defied the odds to ensure they are within a shout of heading to Wembley. Their ability to frustrate their opponents would have pleased their fans, but heading into the second leg without a lead will make them anxious ahead of a game they are odds on to lose.
A repeat of their bullish stance will serve their manager Wagner well, despite the side lacking any real punch attacking wise throughout the season when compared to their playoff rivals, they have frustrated sides during an impressive campaign including beating Newcastle, Leeds and Norwich away. To do so they will need to stay in the game and keep the game level. For the game to be drawn at half time and full time is 4/1 with Bet Victor and Huddersfield to Qualify is 6/4 with bet365.
It appears as though the game will be attack versus defence and it will help the fact that David Ward returns in goal following suspension and if Huddersfield have any chance they will need to keep Wednesday out, and try to get a counter attacking goal. A 0-0 score after 90 minutes is 15/2 with William Hill, and as the first game showed, the Terriers are just as good at defending as Wednesday are at attacking.
Can Nahki Wells grab a counter-attacking goal to help his side to Wembley?
STATS
- Huddersfield Town have failed to score a goal in their last three matches and only three times in six away games.
- There have been under 2.5 goals per game in Huddersfield last 7 away games.
- Huddersfield have collected four red cards this season, Sheffield Wednesday have seen seven dismissals.
- Sheffield Wednesday have kept six clean sheets in eight meetings with Huddersfield
CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)
Sheffield Wednesday: 6/4 with bet365 - Visit bet365!
Draw: 23/10 with bet365 - Visit bet365!
Huddersfield: 11/4 with Bet Victor - Visit Bet Victor!
HEAD TO HEAD
04-04-2015: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Huddersfield
21-11-2105: Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Huddersfield
02-04-2016: Huddersfield 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
16-10-2016: Huddersfield 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
14-01-2017: Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Huddersfield
14-05-2017: Huddersfield 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
SUMMING UP!
The win for Wednesday looks quite easy to call, but this game is the most important to Huddersfield in their modern history and in David Wagner, they probably have the best tactician in the division, so they could surprise everyone by shutting out their free flowing hosts, but it looks unlikely again. Sheffield Wednesday can field a whole host of attacking talents in order to complete the job here and in this one off game, they will have real match winners.
MY PREDICTION
Difficult to see anything than a Sheffield Wednesday win. A 2-0 win is 10/1 with Paddy Power and looks a likely result here.
MY RECOMMENDED BETS
- Sheffield Wednesday to win 3-1 is 22/1 with Paddy Power - Visit Paddy Power!
- Steven Fletcher to score the games first goal is 6/1 with bet365 - Visit bet365!
- Ross Wallace is 14/1 with Unibet to hit the woodwork - Visit Unibet!
- Halftime Sheffield Wednesday win, Full time Sheffield Wednesday win is 11/4 with Coral - Visit Coral!
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