This Week's Opposition: Sheffield Wednesday

Kirsty Roxanne takes a closer look at Pompey's next opponent in the Championship.

A goal from Colby Bishop in the opening 3 minutes was not enough to keep the Blues in The FA Cup as they were knocked out by Arsenal last time out.

Attention turns back to the league this weekend as we head to Hillsborough to take on bottom of the table side Sheffield Wednesday.

MANAGER

Henrik Pedersen is at the helm of The Owls.

He first spent 6 years within Red Bull, taking stints with Red Bull Salzburg’s youth teams and Red Bull Chana. Pedersen also managed HB Køge, assistant manager of German side Union Berlin, Eintracht Braunschweig, Stromsgodet in Norway and Vendsyssel FF in Denmark.

Pedersen first joined the club in October 2023 as assistant manager and was a vital part of the coaching team when Wednesday sealed Championship survival against the odds on the last day of the 2023/24 season. He then helped steer the club to a mid-table finish in the second tier in 2024/25.

The Owls announced Pedersen as club manager in July and he has so far overseen 29 matches, attributing 3 wins, 8 draws and 18 defeats.

ONE TO WATCH

Jamaican forward Bailey Cadamarteri is one to keep tabs on.

The 20-year-old plays up front and last found the back of the net 5 games ago in a 2-2 draw with Hull City.

Cadamarteri came up through the ranks of Sheffield Wednesday, turning pro in 2022 - He wears the number 18 shirt.

TOP SCORER

There are 2 leading goalscorers at Hillsborough both on 3 league goals: Barry Bannan and Charlie McNeill.

Owls captain Bannan made his professional debut in the Villans’ Europa League campaign against Hamburg in 2008.

After his extensive career in both the Premier League and Championship, Bannan settled at Hillsborough in August 2015, extending his stay with the club ahead of the 2025/26 season. The fan favourite has made over 400 appearances in all competitions.

McNeill rose through the ranks at Old Trafford before moving across to rivals Manchester City, where he earned a reputation in front of the goal at youth level.

He was part of the Red Devils side that lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2022 and had loan spells with Newport County and Stevenage before joining Wednesday in July 2024. McNeill has 1 assist to his name in 22 matches this term.

CURRENT FORM

After getting an 18 point deduction as a result of going into administration, the side currently sit bottom with -7 points.

The Blues are 3 places above Wednesday, just out of the relegation zone by a point.

In their last meeting in the reverse fixture at Fratton, it was Pederson’s side who came out on top with all 3 points and that is still to this date their only league win of the season.

It's another massive game for John Mousinho’s side but can they bring 3 points back to PO4?

Find out by tuning in to Pompey Live from 2pm on Saturday (January 17th) afternoon - Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson will be reporting on this Championship fixture LIVE from Hillsborough until 6pm.

Kick-off: 3pm!