This Week's Opposition: Sheffield Wednesday

A closer look at the Blues' next Championship opponent with Pompey Live pundit Kirsty Roxanne.

A goalless draw was played out at St Mary’s in the South Coast Derby last time out for Pompey, who now go back to Fratton Park to welcome The Owls in Matchday 6.

MANAGER

Danish manager Henrik Pedersen is at the helm of Sheffield Wednesday.

The 47-year-old worked as a youth manager at several Danish clubs before joining Red Bull Salzburg, he completed 6 years within Red Bull and held a central role in forming a footballing philosophy for the entire Red Bull group, as well as taking charge of the now defunct Red Bull Ghana.

He first took up senior management in Europe in 2014 in the Danish First Division with HB Køge.

Pederson then went on to become assistant manager of German outfit Union Berlin before managing Eintracht Braunschweig, Stromsogodset in Norway and finally Vendsyssell FF in Denmark.

Pedersen first joined The Owls as assistant manager to Danny Röhl in October 2023 and was a vital part of the coaching team as Wednesday sealed Championship survival against the odds on the final day of the 2023/24 season.

Following the exit of Röhl, Pederson returned as manager, signing a 3-year contract with the club in July.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch this weekend is Owls captain Barry Bannan.

Bannan joined Aston Villa’s academy from boyhood club Celtic at the age of 14, making his professional debut in the Villans’ Europa League campaign against Hamburg in 2008.

The 35-year-old has also played for Crystal Palace with loan deals at Derby County, Blackpool, Leeds United and Bolton Wanderers.

The Scotland international joined Wednesday on a free transfer back in August 2015 and has since featured over 400 times for the club across all competitions. As of August this year, only 7 players in the club’s entire history have featured more times than Bannan.

TOP SCORER

The Owls have scored 3 goals this season with all 3 coming from different players.

Nathaniel Chalobah netted his first Wednesday goal and the first of the club’s season on the opening day in a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City . Chalobah, who is currently sidelined through injury, signed on a permanent transfer from West Bromwich Albion last July and wears the number 14 shirt.

Barry Bannan and Bailey Cadamarteri both scored to level a 2-2 draw with Wrexham at The Racecourse on August 23rd. Cadamarteri has been at Hillsborough since joining the Under-9s and signed his first professional contract in 2022. He went out on loan to Lincoln City last season, playing 31 times and scoring 8 goals across all competitions.

CURRENT FORM

Henrik Pederson’s side sit 23rd in the Championship, collecting their only point from a possible 15 away at Wrexham on Matchday 3.

On Tuesday night, The Owls were knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a 1-0 Third Round defeat at home to Grimsby Town.

In this fixture last season, it was Wednesday who came out on top at Fratton Park with a 2-1 victory back in October.

Can the Blues keep their form up and remain in the top half of the table?

If you can't make it to the game, be sure to catch all of the action on Pompey Live from 2pm on Saturday (September 20th) afternoon - Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson will be reporting LIVE from PO4.

Kick-off: 3pm!