Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff City Prediction: Three defeats on the spin?

Sheffield Wednesday fans have been left to stew for two weeks over the international break having watched their side lose the derby to Sheffield United at Bramall a fortnight ago. However, Danny Rohl will hope to get his Owls back to winning ways when they host a Cardiff City outfit that are clearly reluctant to appoint Omar Riza as the permanent boss. 

After such a positive start, he has now lost his last two games, opening the door for the managerial search to step up a gear in South Wales. A lot could rest on this result then, and below you can find my Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff City prediction for this Saturday afternoon clash (12:30, Sky Sports+) at Hillsborough. 

Team News

It’s all looking pretty good for Wednesday right now. Apart from Akin Famewo and Olaf Kobacki, everyone is back in training and this international break should have played out in their favour. It seems likely that Michael Smith will start up front, having lost his spot for the Derby, and the big striker could cause Cardiff issues at the back. 

Ike Ugbo is likely to make way as a result, with the striker still lacking the goalscoring touch this term. Svante Ingelsson, Barry Bannan and Shea Charles are likely to make up the midfield trio once again as Rohl looks to recreate their last home performance - a 2-0 win over Norwich City. 

Josh Windass and Marvin Johnson may occupy the wide midfield spots, although Djeidi Gassama would provide more energy and pace than the 33-year-old can offer. Pol Valentin is also an option at right-back in place of Yan Valery.

For Cardiff, Joe Ralls is now back fully fit and ready to play his part, while the experienced Aaron Ramsey may also not be far away. Riza will be looking for solutions after two defeats on the bounce and so Emmanouil Siopis could return to the XI having been left on the bench against Blackburn Rovers. 

Yakou Meite could also provide some pace in wide areas if called upon, while Callum Robinson is battling an ongoing Achilles issue that could rule him out again. He missed Ireland’s trip to Wembley and without him, the Bluebirds are looking slightly toothless, with Chris Willock a makeshift option up front under consideration. 

Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff City Odds

Sheffield Wednesday are priced at 1/1 to win this game, giving them an implied win probability of 50%. Cardiff are available at 11/4, a draw is 12/5 and over 2.5 goals is 10/11. BTTS can be backed at 8/11 while Michael Smith and Ike Ugbo are the favourites to open the scoring at 11/2.

Sheffield Wednesday to win @ 1/1

I’m going to play this one with a straight bat first of all. I think Cardiff’s upturn in form may have lulled them into a false sense of security, but make no mistake about it, I think they are in serious relegation trouble this season. Riza’s new manager bounce is now on a downward arc, and with the lingering possibility of a new boss still coming in - how much certainty is truly amongst that playing squad?

Sheffield Wednesday will be boosted by the return of a couple of key players, but I also think they but in a pretty good display, despite defeat, at Bramall Lane. With Rohl at the helm, I’m expecting the Owls to pick up over the winter period, and begin to move towards the top 10. It all starts with three points on Saturday lunchtime.

Josh Windass to score anytime @ 23/10

Gut feeling this one. I’m not particularly enamoured by any of Wednesday’s centre-forwards this season - with Ubgo leaving plenty to be desired, but I do think the home side carry a goal threat. Windass has four goals to his name this term, and seems to do his best work for me starting wide, and running into central areas.

He has scored two in his last four league outings, and Rohl must be a fan of his work-rate and tactical flexibility, starting him as a number 10 on several occasions this term. I think he will play on the wing here, and I’m not sure Cardiff’s backline, who looked poor against Rovers, will be able to stop him from finding the net on home soil.

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