Clarets and Owls search for win

Since the draw with Derby on the Saturday before Christmas we've only won one point, that in a 0-0 draw at Southampton, but that point is one more than our opponents tomorrow have won in 2007.

Things had been going well for Sheffield Wednesday after a disappointing start to the season. Against the wishes of their supporters, manager Paul Sturrock was sacked in October and the improvement was instant. Youth coach Sean McAuley was put in charge and suddenly they were winning games.

As the name of Steve Cotterill was linked with the job, McAuley had a fantastic month in charge and they won three and drew one of his four games in charge. He then returned to his previous role when former Claret Brian Laws left Scunthorpe to take the job.

Nothing changed, they kept on winning, and had climbed to ninth in the table. From that October date when Sturrock left, to the end of the year, only Birmingham won more points, and Wednesday fans were looking forward to a promotion challenge.

Six weeks later they have slipped back just below half way and haven't picked up a point whilst also going out of the FA Cup at the first time of asking against Manchester City. The problem has clearly been at the back, only once have they failed to score but they have been conceding too many goals.

Laws has today taken steps to stop the leaking of goals and has signed West Brom's former Newcastle, Aston Villa and Everton defender Steve Watson on loan for the rest of the season. Watson is Laws' third signing this year but he did add three loan signings just after taking the job.

The first of those was his former Nottingham Forest team mate Mark Crossley from Fulham. Crossley has been the regular first choice goalkeeper since and looks set to remain at Hillsborough for the rest of the season. Woking's Indian goalkeeper Shwan Jalal was brought in as cover but both he and Coventry's Wayne Andrews, who also signed on loan, have returned to their clubs.

During the January transfer window he improved his attacking options with the signings of Wolves' Leon Clarke and Jermaine Johnson from Bradford City. Clarke has been used exclusively from the bench so far whilst Johnson is still waiting to make his Wednesday debut as he completes a suspension after being sent off in his last game for Bradford City.

Last week they fell to defeat against promotion chasing Preston at Hillsborough and this despite taking a fourth minute lead through Deon Burton. In a disappointing game Preston were soon level and they went on to win it 3-1 with David Nugent scoring twice.

Click HERE to see all Sheffield Wednesday's results this season.

Both teams are in desperate need of a result, along with Birmingham we are the two clubs with the worst runs since the beginning of the year.

Steve Watson comes straight into the squad, and there's also good news for Wednesday with Richard Wood fit for the first time this season. To add to that Peter Gilbert has returned from a loan spell at Doncaster and is also named in the squad.

Regular centre half Graham Coughlan remains doubtful although he is close to a return after fracturing a jaw, former Blackpool full back John Hills is definitely out as is Jermaine Johnson who will complete his suspension.

The Wednesday team could be: Mark Crossley, Lee Bullen, Frankie Simek, Steve Watson, Tommy Spurr, Kenny Lunt, Glenn Whelan, Chris Brunt, Wade Small, Marcus Tudgay, Deon Burton. Subs from: Chris Adamson, Yoann Folly, Steven MacLean, Leon Clarke, David Graham, Mark Beevers, Peter Gilbert, Richard Wood.

Click HERE to see the full Sheffield Wednesday squad.

The last time Burnley played at home Mike Pollitt, Frank Sinclair and Gifton Noel-Williams were all in the starting line up whilst Steven Caldwell was still playing for RK Sunderland. It means there will definitely be some changes in the Burnley side from that night against Stoke.

Steve Jones, who returned via the bench last week at QPR, is still struggling with a calf injury and I don't expect him to feature but other than that it looks to be a full squad Steve Cotterill has to choose from.

Andy Gray made an appearance from the bench last week and although not back to full fitness I think he'll feature and could well start, whilst I think Caldwell will make his full debut at the back after impressing as a second half substitute.

If Gray plays then it will be most likely a 4-4-2 line up with the midfield the hardest to pick. Eric Djemba-Djemba returns from suspension and he'll be a certain starter.

The team could be Danny Coyne, Wayne Thomas, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, Jon Harley, Alan Mahon, Eric Djemba-Djemba, James O'Connor, Joey Gudjonsson, Ade Akinbiyi, Andy Gray. Subs from: Stephen Foster, John McGreal, Wade Elliott, Garreth O'Connor, Chris McCann, Kyle Lafferty.

When Sheffield Wednesday last played at Burnley, in the last game of 2005, it was very much a home banker. We went into the game on the back of six successive home wins, poor Sheffield Wednesday were not only on a losing streak but hadn't scored a goal in any of their previous seven games.

You've guessed it, they broke that long run without a goal after just five minutes from Chris Eagles and then early in the second half added a second through Graham Coughlan. That was enough to ensure the points went Wednesday's way and there could be no arguing about the result.

We did give ourselves a late chance to rescue things with a goal six minutes from the end, and what a strange goal it was, it came from the penalty spot. Yes, 51 games ago and that was the last time we were awarded a penalty.

Even then we nearly didn't get it. Substitute Garreth O'Connor went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Nicky Weaver but referee Woolmer amazingly decided it was a dive and went to yellow card the midfielder. The assistant with a much clearer and closer view forced the referee to change his mind.

Penalty it was but then Woolmer failed to send off Weaver, in fact didn't even yellow card him, but O'Connor scored from the spot. It didn't change the result, it didn't deserve to, but it would all have been interesting at the end if they'd had no keeper.

The teams were;

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal (Wayne Thomas 19), Jon Harley (Danny Karbassiyoon 81), Wade Elliott, Micah Hyde, James O'Connor, Graham Branch (Garreth O'Connor 45), Ade Akinbiyi, Gifton Noel-Williams. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Chris McCann.

Sheffield Wednesday: Nicky Weaver, Frankie Simek, Graham Coughlan, Richard Wood, Peter Gilbert, Chris Eagles (Lee Bullen 70), Burton O'Brien, John Hills, Steve Adams (Glenn Whelan 67), Chris Brunt, Barry Corr (Drissa Diallo 82). Subs not used: Ritchie Partridge, Danny Reet.

Previous 20 Seasons
Season	Div	Ven	Result	Att	Scorers
2000/01	1	h	1-0	16,372	Davis
.	.	a	0-2	20,184	.
2001/02	1	a	2-0	21,766	Taylor Cook(pen)
.	.	h	1-2	16,081	Taylor(pen)
2002/03	1	a	3-1	17,004	Taylor Little I Moore
.	.	h	2-7	17,435	Blake(2 1pen)
2005/06	C	h	1-2	14,607	G O'Connor(pen)
.	.	a	0-0	24,485	.
2006/07	C	a	1-1	22,425	J O'Connor

Click HERE to see all our previous results against Sheffield Wednesday.