Newcastle United vs Sheffield Wednesday: Match Preview
Newcastle continue to hang atop the number 1 position on the log after seeing their gap over 2nd placed Brighton and Hove reduce to just a point, and their next draw could see them lose that prized spot.
With 6th positioned Sheffield Wednesday set to pay the Saint James’ Park a visit on boxing day as the Championship enters its 23rd round of fixtures, Benitez will be bent on getting the better of the visitors and put all 3 points in the bag at all cost.
It would definitely be a great clash between both sides, with Premier League football on their minds as they battle for supremacy in the race to clinch a spot out of the three available to secure promotion to the top flight.
Team News
Newcastle
The Toons will be without Jack Colback, who currently has an eye problem and won’t return to action until next year.
A heavy blow to Benitez’s selection process is the absence of unarguably Newcastle’s most influential player of the season Jonjo Shelvey.
The England international has been served a 5-match ban by the F.A, having been found guilty of racially abusing Wolves’ Moroccan midfielder Romain Saiss, in September.
However, Senegalese star Cheick Tiote, could be making a return to the action and given his 2nd Championship appearance of the season.
Sheffield Wednesday
The Owls will welcome back former Watford striker and joint highest goal scorer Fernando Forestieri, following a 3-man ban for his red card against Preston earlier this month.
The side’s manager Carlos Carvalhal, has revealed that a couple of his charges are with some knocks and are doubtful for selection, Abdi being one.
Predicted Line-ups
Newcastle
4-4-1-1
Darlow
Anita; Dummett; Lascelles; Clark
Atsu; Ritchie; Colback; Gouffran
Diamé
Gayle
Sheffield Wednesday
4-4-2
Westwood
Hunt; Lees; Hutchinson; Pudil
Lee; Wallace; Jones; Bannan
Fletcher; Hooper
Statistics
Sheffield Wednesday haven’t been able to shut down Newcastle’s attack in the last 12 league clashes between the 2 sides, shipping 24 whopping goals in total.
Newcastle are yet to lose to Sheffield Wednesday in six league matches (W3 D3).
Newcastle have a boxing day curse, winning just 2 of their last 14 matches played on December 26 (D3 L9).
On the other hand, Wednesday have won 3 and drawn 1 in their last 4 boxing day fixtures, and have kept 4 clean sheets in total.
The hosts boast of the highest goal scorer in the division within their ranks in Dwight Gayle, with 17 strikes coming from the former Palace striker.
Gayle also is the only player in the Championship with more than one hat-trick (2) to his name this season.
Final Prediction
Newcastle won’t find this match any easy, and that Shelvey won’t be around could make things harder for them against a spirited Sheffield side hoping to hold on to their position – the last playoff spot.
A narrow win or even a draw could be played out. Or we might even see Newcastle play their best football and get an emphatic victory, or produce an underwhelming display and end of losing.
Such games are hard to predict and the pendulum could swing in any direction.
Final Predicted Scores
Newcastle 2: Sheffield Wednesday 1