Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Cheltenham Town - prediction, team news, lineups

With the race for League One playoff places heating up, Sheffield Wednesday will look to make a return to winning ways when they host Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

Having played out consecutive draws, the Owls sit seventh in England's third tier, just one point behind sixth-placed Sunderland with a game in hand.

Match preview

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Having struggled to establish themselves at the top end of the League One table in the first half of the campaign, Sheffield Wednesday gave their playoff hopes a major boost with an impressive run of form, winning seven of a span of eight matches between late January and early March.

After a defeat halted that run, the Owls bounced back in eye-catching style, thrashing Cambridge United 6-0 on home turf with Saido Berahino hitting a hat-trick alongside goals from Barry Bannan and George Byers and an early Lloyd Jones own goal.

With that putting them on the brink of the top six, Darren Moore's side have since been unable to add another notch to their wins column, playing out consecutive draws heading into the weekend as they were firstly held by Accrington Stanley at Hillsborough after Callum Paterson's opener.

The South Yorkshire outfit most recently travelled to strugglers Gillingham, and they were unable to break the deadlock as the contest finished as a goalless stalemate.

Despite those two slightly disappointing results, the Owls remain in a strong position in the race for the top six, only trailing Sunderland by one point with eight matches left to play while keeping a game in hand, and, with the Black Cats not in action at the weekend, Moore's men would climb into the playoff spots with a draw or victory.

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They take on a Cheltenham Town side looking to keep hold of their spot in the top half after a defeat last time out, having enjoyed a commendable campaign upon their return to the third tier.

After a thrashing of strugglers Doncaster Rovers and an eventual 3-1 defeat to promotion-chasing MK Dons, the Robins boosted their claim for a high mid-table finish with consecutive victories, firstly defeating Morecambe 3-1 away from home thanks to goals from Liam Sercombe, Callum Wright and Alfie May.

Michael Duff's men then beat AFC Wimbledon by the same scoreline at home last weekend, with Wright and May again on the scoresheet alongside George Lloyd as they came back from a goal down with 10 minutes to go.

In their search for a third straight win, the Robins faced the tough task of a trip to fourth-placed Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday, and they would leave empty-handed as Niall Ennis and Danny Mayor hit first-half goals for their hosts.

Now only leading 13th-placed Accrington Stanley on goal difference, Duff's men will look to further strengthen their campaign and top-half claim with what would be a 13th league win of the season at the weekend.

Team News

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Sheffield Wednesday are without forward Saido Berahino, who is away on international duty with Burundi after enjoying a resurgence for the Owls, while key striker Josh Windass is a doubt due to an injury concern.

Given those absences, Moore may have to choose between Callum Paterson, Florian Kamberi and Sylla Sow to partner Lee Gregory, while George Byers, Massimo Luongo and captain Barry Bannan form an impressive midfield trio.

Elsewhere, defenders Chey Dunkley, Harlee Dean and Dominic Iorfa have all returned to contention recently, boosting competition in what has already been a strong defensive unit, with Sam Hutchinson and Preston North End loanee Jordan Storey vying to keep their places.

Northern Irish goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell is available to play this weekend before he leaves to join up with the national team.

Cheltenham's line will be led by Alfie May, who has hit 19 League One goals this term, 11 more than the 28-year old had ever previously managed in a league campaign.

Defender Sean Long was shifted out to the right-hand side against Plymouth, allowing Matty Blair to operate in the attack, and Mattie Pollock could again play alongside Will Boyle and Charlie Raglan in a back three to accommodate those alterations.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; Storey, Iorfa, Hutchinson; Hunt, Byers, Luongo, Bannan, Johnson; Paterson, Gregory

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Evans; Raglan, Pollock, Boyle; Long, Wright, Bonds, Sercombe, Freestone; Blair, May

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Cheltenham Town

Sunderland not playing at the weekend allows Sheffield Wednesday a clear path into the top six with their game in hand, and we back them to take the chance and return to winning ways on home turf.

While they will be disappointed by consecutive draws, Moore's side have looked rejuvenated since the turn of the year, and, even without several forwards, they possess the quality to outclass their visitors.

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