Preview: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

27 January 2023

Fleetwood Town are set to face Sheffield Wednesday for the second time in a week at Hillsborough on Saturday 28 January, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round

Date: Saturday 28 January 2023

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: Hillsborough, Leppings Lane, Sheffield, S6 1SW

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Six days after a narrow 1-0 loss and Fleetwood are back in South Yorkshire, to face Darren Moore’s Wednesday again, but this time it’s in the FA Cup. Town’s record in the competition so far has been very good with wins at home against both Oxford City of the Conference South and Queens Park Rangers of the Championship, with a win on the road against another non-league team in Ebbsfleet United.

Since New Year’s Day, the league hasn’t been all too kind to Fleetwood with no win in three games since their 3-0 win over Shrewsbury Town. In midweek, the latest Sky Bet League One fixture came against Portsmouth, who overcame Cods 2-0, so Scott Brown’s side will be looking to not just write some wrongs and get back to winning ways at the weekend.

Fleetwood will receive a boost when defender Shaun Rooney returns from a suspension that he picked up after Fleetwood’s home fixture in the league against Saturday’s opponents. With the additions the club have made over the course of the January transfer window, Town will be hoping to see something from them as they could be in the mix to make an impact on the game.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

On the contrary to Fleetwood, the Owls are enjoying a great run of form having been unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, but they haven’t lost since October in the league. Their unbeaten run was extended after their win over Fleetwood last weekend, and it sure seems like Wednesday are on their way to a successful end to the season.

Having beaten Premier League opposition in Newcastle in the last round, the Owls will come into Saturday’s tie full of confidence and it’ll certainly be a completely different dynamic to the game's last meeting between these two, just seven days ago.

With Fleetwood looking to make more FA Cup history by getting to the Fifth Round for the first team in the club’s history, as they did in the Third after beating QPR, they’ll have to overcome a relentless attacking style from Sheffield Wednesday and catch League One’s second-placed team off guard. Cup football is back!

SCOTT BROWN AHEAD OF THE WEDNESDAY CLASH

Head coach Scott Brown spoke to the local media ahead of his side's trip to face Sheffield Wednesday in a historic Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round clash for the club – here’s what he had to say:

“We went to Sheff Wed last week and I thought we were exceptional, and I told the lads that. We played brilliantly against a top team that is on a fantastic run of form as well so I will praise the lads when they do well, but they also need to take the negative side of things as well when they don’t perform.

“I’m sure they will go strong as their game on Tuesday was called off so I’m sure he’ll want his best players getting 60-90 minutes under their belts, and Darren [Moore]’s concentration will be on the league because of the situation they’re in. It’ll be a great occasion for the lads to go out and play and it will be even better for them as you are going back to a great stadium.

“We need to put on a performance that our fans and their fans will remember. We’ve had some great results in the competition so far and, like everyone, we want to make it to the next round. The squad hasn’t been chosen yet, there’s one day left of training, and everyone will have to be out there, and the team will be selected from that.

“Everyone’s number is up at the weekend so it’s all about the performance levels in training, can they go three games in one week, but can they also dig us out of a hole as well because we’ve been beaten three times on the run and I don’t like that, I’m not a person who likes to get beat, the lads don’t want to get beat, we shared our feelings in a meeting, and will move on from that.”

20230126 - Scott Brown pre Sheff Wed.jpg

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: A replay is needed after Town held to a Sheffield draw

28 January 2023

Fleetwood Town were held to a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough by Sheffield Wednesday which means an Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay is on the cards.

Promise Omochere was on hand to score an early second-half goal assisted but that was cancelled out by Mallik Wilks as the Fourth-Round tie ended in a draw.

Backed by a host of travelling supporters, Town started the Fourth Round tie looking to get at Sheffield Wednesday’s backline, but the home team soon got the ball under control. The first sniff at goal for either side came when Sheffield Wednesday drilled a ball across the Fleetwood box, but nobody was there to claim it.

Just over a quarter of an hour in, Wilks, who was bought into Wednesday’s starting line-up by Darren Moore got the better of Josh Earl and got a shot away, but it rippled off a Town defender and failed to trouble Jay Lynch - a strong start made by the hosts.

On his return to the squad, Shaun Rooney was flagged for a challenge on Josh Windass and from the resulting free-kick, the Owls nearly took the lead but some good defence by the Cods kept the hosts out. A further chance came from Jack Hunt, who swung his foot at the ball from just outside the area, but it failed to test Lynch.

Scott Brown’s side were looking for openings, mostly through the likes of Cian Hayes and Omochere but chances were at a premium for Town. While the top end of the pitch seemed quiet for Fleetwood, Town defended heroically time after time and kept the Owls at bay well.

After the break, Fleetwood looked a bit more lively going forward. With the introduction of Harvey Macadam and the front-foot nature of midfielder Scott Robertson, Town began the second half looking for that pathway forward. With that decent start to the second half, Brendan Wiredu had a good chance but headed over from a Paddy Lane free kick.

The game sparked into life when Town’s wave of attacks paid off. Macadam’s cross from the right went over the head of Josh Vela, but Lane and Robertson did well to work the ball to Danny Andrew. He then found the head of Omochere who nodded us into a second-half lead. A great start to the second half for the Cods.

Sheffield Wednesday’s first chance of the second half came when Wilks hit an effort too far over the Fleetwood goal after some good build-up play. Not too long after that, the hosts responded with a goal from Wilks who got on the end of a cross to level the game.

The second 45 minutes of the game were entertaining, very end to end and chances were certainly not at a premium now. The game had opened and after the Owls cancelled out Town’s lead, it was anyone’s game.

A shame for Fleetwood’s excellent goal to have been chalked off by the Wilks equaliser - which seemed to come off the boot of Earl - but it was a valiant effort from the Cods who were the better team for large periods.

With ten minutes remaining, the game became quite a tense affair. Moore’s side had another chance when the ball fell to Barry Bannan but the opportunity was cooled off with a fantastic block from Robertson. The two sides couldn’t be separated in the final knockings of proceedings.

The game nearly had a winner when Wednesday’s Michael Smith saw his header hit the bar, but the two teams couldn’t be decided in the 90 minutes, meaning a replay at Highbury to decide who will make it through to the fifth round.

Owls XI: Dawson (GK), Palmer (C), Vaulks (Gregory 60’), Iorfa, Wilks (Smith 86’), Adeniran (Byers 60’), Windass, Paterson, Fawemo (Flint 90’), Johnson, Hunt (Bannan 60’).

Unused subs: Stockdale (GK), Brown, Dele-Bashiru, Bakinson, Smith.

Cods XI: Lynch (GK), Andrew, Wiredu, Vela (C), Robertson, Lane (Holgate 89’), Omochere (Garner 90+9’), Hayes (Macadam 45’), Nsiala, Rooney, Earl (Warrington 76’).

Unused subs: McMullan (GK), Muskwe, Patterson, Johnston, Jones.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets go off sale from Highbury at 4:30pm today - get yours now!

27 January 2023

Tickets for Saturday's Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round clash against Sheffield Wednesday go off sale from the club shop at 4:30pm, but will be available on the gate on the day at Hillsborough.

The FA Cup match will take place the following Saturday (28 January) at 3pm, with the Fifth Round awaiting the winners of this match. Eight coaches are already packed full of supporters ready to cheer on the Cods this weekend and we know everybody wants to join them across the Pennines in Yorkshire.

Tickets will still be available to purchase from the stadium on the day, but you will only be able to pay with cash to do so. Until 4:30pm today, you can buy yours hassle free by clicking HERE!

The Cod Army have been allocated seats in The Leppings Lane Stand, with prices as follows:

Adults: £15

Seniors (65+): £10

Under-21s: £10

Under-17s: £5

Coach Travel

Coaches will be departing Highbury Stadium at 10am, costing only £5 for all Onward Card Holders and £15 for Non-Onward Card Holders. If you require any further details, please don't hesitate to call the ticket office on 01253 775080.

Ticket News

Fleetwood Town

Standings

Preview: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Match centre: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Report: A replay is needed after Town held to a Sheffield draw

Match centre: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Tickets go off sale from Highbury at 4:30pm today - get yours now!

Support Town on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup!

Tickets now on sale for Town's cup tie at Hillsborough

Standings

Fixture News

Match centre: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Fixture News

Match centre: Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Ticket News

Support Town on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup!

Tickets now on sale for Town's cup tie at Hillsborough