Under-fire Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen will be keen to see a reaction from his players after their dismal showing at Notts County in midweek. The performance at Meadow Lane drew significant criticism from supporters, with some calling for a change in the dugout following the 2-0 defeat.
Although Wednesday remain firmly in the promotion picture, a run of just one victory from their past five matches has increased the scrutiny on Pedersen. They sit just outside the League One play-off places on goal difference and still have a game in on hand on the teams immediately above them.
Pedersen will have to make several changes to his starting XI. Di’Shon Bernard has been ruled out after suffering a minor knee injury against Notts County, Callum Slattery misses out through suspension after collecting five bookings while Jamal Lowe also starts a three-match ban after his needless red card on Tuesday evening.
With Joe Lumley still nursing a rib problem, Ashley Maynard-Brewer looks set to retain his place in goal. He was arguably Wednesday’s standout performer in Nottingham.
Pedersen could freshen things up on the left side of his defence, with Max Lowe pushing for a recall after two encouraging appearances from the bench. Yan Valery is likely to continue on the right.
Sil Swinkels has recovered from a hamstring problem and may be included on the bench
Central defence remains an area of concern. Bernard has joined Ricardo Santos and Cole McGhee on the injury list while Gabriel Otegbayo has endured a difficult season. Sil Swinkels has recovered from a hamstring problem and may be included on the bench. Given the talented young Dutch defender has not featured in two months, it would be a huge gamble to throw him straight back into the team.
Instead, Pedersen could opt to hand Ernie Weaver his first league start of the season alongside veteran defender Liam Cooper. “He [Weaver] has started to be more match fit match fit and he’s a theme now for the squad and playing time,” confirmed Pedersen at his press briefing.
As first revealed by The Wednesday Word, Weaver looked set to go out on loan to National League side AFC Hornchurch earlier this week but that plan was scrapped after Bernard sustained his minor knee injury. “It’s on hold because we are down on centre-backs,” admitted Pedersen. “We made it on hold because we also think he can be in the squad and he has chance for game-time.”
Billy Mitchell is expected to return to midfield. His experience, energy and combative qualities could be vital in what promises to be a fiercely contested derby. The big question is who partners him: Jaden Heskey or Barry Bannan? Both have struggled for consistency, but Bannan’s ability to dictate the tempo of the game may give him the edge. Wednesday’s shortcomings in possession at Notts County highlighted the need for greater control in midfield.
Further forward, Kieran Morrison is poised to start on the right flank while Davis Keillor-Dunn should operate in the No 10 role. Harry Gray could keep his place on the left.
Jamal Lowe’s suspension presents Ali Al-Hamadi with a significant opportunity to establish himself as the club’s first-choice striker. Top-scorer Jamal Lowe will miss the Doncaster, Cambridge United and Blackpool fixtures so the Ipswich loanee has to seize his chance with both hands and give Pedersen a major selection headache.
Pedersen is also likely to want attacking reinforcements on the bench. That could open the door for Mason Burstow to return to the squad, although another loan player may have to make way, with Heskey potentially the man to miss out.
On Rovers, Pedersen said: “It will be a tough, intense derby. They are a team who can play very direct, but can also really be strong in possession.
“It will be a test for our pressing again, for us to handle the direct long balls, the intensity and also to handle when they have the strong possession phases.”
Predicted Owls line-up vs Doncaster Rovers (4-2-3-1): Maynard-Brewer; Valery, Weaver, Cooper, Lowe; Mitchell, Bannan; Morrison, Keillor-Dunn, Gray; Al-Hamadi.
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