Stoke City v Sheffield Wednesday: mid-table push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Stoke City host Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Friday, 3 April in Stoke-on-Trent, with the hosts targeting momentum in mid-table and the visitors desperate for points to aid a relegation fight.

Stoke City took the reverse fixture 3-0 in August. The Potters sit 15th with a positive goal difference, while Sheffield Wednesday are bottom and deep in trouble after a season of heavy defeats.

Recent form points the same way. Stoke City have one win in their last five league games, whereas Sheffield Wednesday are winless across the same span with four defeats and one draw.

Injuries could shape selections. Stoke City list Steven Nzonzi, Aaron Cresswell, Ben Wilmot, Robert Bozenik, Viktor Johansson and Junior Tchamadeu as injured. For the visitors, the Owls have defenders Liam Cooper and Di'Shon Bernard among a lengthy absentees list, alongside Guilherme Siqueira.

On the pitch, Stoke City's season profile suggests they could control periods of the game, averaging 52% possession with 78.86% pass accuracy and strong supply from wide areas, delivering 516 open play crosses at 16.86% accuracy. Sorba Thomas has 10 league goals and nine assists and may be key. The Owls have struggled at both ends, scoring 24 and conceding 79, so their back line could be tested by sustained crossing and territory.

Stoke City are 15th on 51 points and a win could nudge them towards the top half. The Owls remain 24th on -6 points and need a rare away result to cut the gap at the bottom and keep survival hopes alive.