Sheffield Wednesday welcome Sunderland to Hillsborough for the second leg of their League One Playoff semi-final on Monday night with kickoff at 21:45.
The first leg ended with Sunderland holding a one goal advantage following a 1-0 victory at Stadium of Light last week.
Therefore Sheffield Wednesday need to overturn the deficit if they are to keep their Championship return hopes alive. They finished fourth in League One, earning themselves home advantage for the second leg in the playoffs semifinal.
The home advantage could be crucial for the Owls who ended the season with the best home record as they claimed 16 victories from their 23 league matches at Hillsborough. They have also conceded fewer goals at home this season and head into the match on the back off a four-match winning streak at home. They should therefore be confident of edging Sunderland here.
Sunderland though currently have their noses in front and only needs a draw to keep their hopes of returning to the Championship alive. The first leg victory extended their current unbeaten run to 14 matches, which is a massive confidence booster heading into the second leg.
Sunderland have been in League One for four years, With only a draw required to secure their passage into the playoff final Alex Neil’s side can take encouragement from their current seven-game unbeaten away run.
Sheffield Wed vs Sunderland head to head
Both sides have met in 12 encounters since 1996 with Sunderland claiming six victories, while Sheffield Wed have claimed four victories and there have been two draws.
- Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wed 06/05/22
- Sunderland 5-0 Sheffield Wed 30/12/21
- Sheffield Wed 3-0 Sunderland 02/11/21
- Sunderland 0-2 Sheffield Wed 16/08/18
- Sunderland 1-3 Sheffield Wed 02/04/18
Home
- Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wed
- Sheffield Wed 4-1 Portsmouth
- Fleetwood 2-3 Sheffield Wed
- Wycombe 1-0 Sheffield Wed
- Sheffield Wed 1-0 Crewe
Away
- Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wed
- Morecambe 0-1 Sunderland
- Sunderland 1-1 Rotherham
- Sunderland 5-1 Cambridge
- Plymouth 0-0 Sunderland
Sheffield Wed team news
Sheffield Wed have no fresh injury concerns but Ciaran Brennan and Dominic Iorfa are doubts.
Sunderland team news
Sunderland will be without Carl Winchester due to injury, while Nathan Broadhead is a doubt.
Prediction and odds
- Sheffield Wed win
- Both sides to score
- Draw