Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday are preparing for a big clash on home soil against an in-form Brentford side in the FA Cup third round.

Sheffield Wednesday have endured a torrid season so far as they are nestled at the foot of the Championship table, and the overwhelming favourites to suffer relegation this term. The club went into administration back in October, which triggered a 12-point deduction, and then they were handed a fresh six-point punishment for further financial issues.

Their eight draws and a solitary win in the league show their points tally as minus-seven, and given their current plight, they will certainly struggle to climb back up into relevancy. Either way, the Owls are now desperate for their first win since mid-September, and they enter the third round of the FA Cup by hosting Premier League side Brentford.

Meanwhile, over at Brentford, Keith Andrews continued to answer a lot of the questions posed during the summer when he replaced former boss Thomas Frank. After the latter’s departure, as well as a few of their key stars, many had expected the bees to fight for relegation, while doubting Andrews’s credentials due to his lack of experience.

Brentford ended the latest matchweek by climbing up to fifth in the Premier League standings, as they defeated an otherwise impressive Sunderland side at the Gtech Community Stadium. That win came courtesy of a brace from Igor Thiago, who took his tally to 16 goals for the season in the league.

Thiago also scored a hat-trick last weekend against Everton, meaning he now has five goals in two games. However, Brentford are on an incredible six-game unbeaten run in the league, and in their last seven games, the defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup was the only bad result. Ahead of their visit to a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side, the Bees are the favourites to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Team News & Tactics

Sheffield Wednesday

There are some injury concerns with Sheffield Wednesday on top of their other problems. Di’Shon Bernard, Ernie Weaver, Liam Cooper, Max Lowe, Nathaniel Chalobah, Olaf Kobacki and George Brown are all sidelined for this clash with Brentford.

There is every chance manager Henrik Pedersen may rotate his pack, with the Sheffield Wednesday boss likely to want to rest Barry Bannan and Bailey Cadamarteri against Brentford, although given the injury issues, it is difficult to see who replaces them.

There is also a fresh concern with defender Dominic Iorfa, while they have another problem after important star Harry Amass was recalled by Manchester United.

Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Charles; Palmer, Otegbayo, McGhee; Fusire, Shipston, Alao, Johnson; Redmond, McNeill, Moses

Brentford

Meanwhile, over at Brentford, Keith Andrews might want to allow his key attackers like Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago, some rest, which could see them being left out or at least on the bench.

The game could be an opportunity for Keane Lewis-Potter and Reiss Nelson to show their talent on the pitch. Andrews might continue to use most of his first team players for this one, including key midfielders Mikkel Damsgaard and Jordan Henderson.

Similarly, at the back, he could allow Aaron Hickey, Ethan Pinnock, and Sepp van den Berg key minutes into their legs, and Andrews is likely to field a competitive and strong lineup despite the idea of resting some of his important players.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Hickey, Pinnock, Van Den Berg, Henry; Jensen, Henderson; Nelson, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris; Lewis-Potter

Key Stats

• Sheffield Wednesday have not registered a win since mid-September.
• Sheffield Wednesday have lost four of their last six games across all competitions.
• Brentford are unbeaten in their last five games.
• Brentford will bid to progress through the FA Cup third round for the first time in four seasons.
• Starting with the 1993 final against Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday were eliminated/beaten in 15 consecutive FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, but have since won two of their last four.

Player to Watch

Keane Lewis-Potter

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The attacker is talented but has not been a regular who would start games every week. The cup competition should be a good avenue for Lewis-Potter to get some key performances on the pitch, and this clash with Sheffield Wednesday should do him a world of good.

While there are other players in need of minutes, Lewis-Potter is probably the closest to having a chance of breaking into being a first-team regular in the league. Hence, all eyes will be on the versatile wide man ahead of this FA Cup clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford.

Prediction

Sheffield Wednesday 0-4 Brentford

Sheffield Wednesday are in disarray at the moment, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel that gives them hope to save this season. Hence, this test against a Premier League team in top form could not have come at a worse possible time.

Brentford boss Keith Andrews will want another big performance from his players and earn a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. There is another big result waiting to happen, and the Bees are the overwhelming favourites to thrash a hapless Sheffield Wednesday side on Saturday.