16 March 2017
By Eddie Gallagher
In this match preview special we partnered up with Eddie Gallagher, Championship and Premier League editor at FootballPredictions.com, to give you some insights on the upcoming match. Sheffield Wednesday and Reading face each other at legendary Hillsborough Stadium in the opening game of Matchday 38. Both sides sit in the play-offs berth, meaning that a close encounter appears on the horizon.
Hillsborough Stadium - the fortress
Sheffield Wednesday are eager to return to the Premier League, but, as things stand now, they are unlikely to secure automatic promotion to the English top flight. The Owls, though, are on the right track to book their place in the Championship play-offs, but the season is quite long and they must take every single game very seriously if they are to finish the 2016/2017 campaign in top six. Sheffield Wednesday crushed Norwich City (5-1) in their penultimate home fixture in the English second tier, with experienced attacker Jordan Rhodes scoring twice against Alex Neil's troops. Rhodes aims to add more goals to his account and he is likely to pose a big threat for the opposition defenders in Friday's clash. Carlos Carvalhal's men have been impressive at their Hillsborough Stadium so far this season and it has to be noted that they are eyeing their 13th home win.
Last win at Wednesday back in 2009
Reading coach and former Dutch centre-back Jaap Stam is on a quest to bring glory days back to Madejski Stadium. The Royals sit in the play-offs places ahead of the trip to Sheffield, but their job is half-done. Reading are on a six-game unbeaten run at home ground and they did well to hold Newcastle United to a goalless draw in their last home fixture. Nonetheless, their away record is anything but impressive and, no doubt, the visitors would be happy with one point from Friday's showdown against Wednesday. Jaap Stam's team recorded their last win at Hillsborough Stadium back in 2009 and considering that the Owls are tough to beat at home, I do not believe that the Royals are capable of putting an end to the negative trend. When the two teams met at Madejski Stadium earlier this season Reading emerged triumphant, with Roy Beerens scoring a brace for the hosts. Former Bournemouth attacker Yann Kermorgant is widely expected to lead the attack for the visitors against Sheffield. The Frenchman is the team's top scorer, meaning that the opposition back-line should have him at bay.
Prediction
Both Sheffield Wednesday and Reading are desperate to book their place in the Championship play-offs and many football predictions suggest that both sides will go for a win in Friday's derby. As we have already mentioned, the Owls have turned their Hillsborough Stadium into a real fortress and they are likely to find the net on Matchday 38. However, seeing that Carlos Carvalhal's men failed to keep a clean sheet in previous four home games in the league, we predict that the Royals will score in the Hillsborough Stadium clash as well. You should bear in mind that both teams found the net in each of their last three meetings in the English second tier. There is plenty of decisive matches coming up in this round of the Championship. You can find more of Galllagher and his team's work on https://footballpredictions.com/footballpredictions/championshippredictions/
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