Pulis seeks first Wednesday win as Stoke come to Hillsborough

Results been mixed in Tony Pulis’ opening two games as Sheffield Wednesday manager.

Having taken over from Garry Monk, who was axed before the International break, Pulis has seen his side lose one and draw one.

The defeat came in the Welshman’s opening game against Preston last weekend. Josh Windass’s sending off for a high foot was followed by a clever volley by Tom Barkhuizen, three minutes after the break.

But after losing Windass to a red card, they then saw their keeper Kieren Westwood go off in the 14th minute of their midweek game against Swansea City. But despite the injury to their number one, The Owls picked up a impressive point in South Wales.

And it was an impressive display from Wednesday as they were the better side in the first 45 minutes and that was rewarded when Adam Reach put them in front.

Swansea stepped up after the interval and found an equaliser on the hour mark from Andre Ayew. They did have some good chances before the end to win it, but the visitors held on. Against a side who find themselves in the top six, having lost just twice in the Championship, it’s a point most Owls fans would take.

It has seen Sheffield Wednesday’s move five points adrift from safety, but there has been encouraging signs in terms of the performances they have been putting in. But now Pulis will be hoping to earn his first win as boss of the South Yorkshire side when his former side Stoke City comes to Hillsborough.

The new Wednesday boss has a good record against his old club. He has faced them 16 times in his managerial career, where his only defeat came in the 1992/93 season while he was Bournemouth manager. He is unbeaten in the 15 matches since then.

But Pulis knows it will be by any means easy. The Potters have had an impressive start to the Championship campaign. They find themselves in 8th place and just two points off the top six, a position Stoke fans will be hoping they are in when the season ends in May.

Michael O’Neill’s men have been involved in some exciting matches this month. Two of which has gone in their favour, two of which has gone against them.

The first of which was at Vicarage Road, where a 93rd minute goal from Ismailla Sarr broke Stoke hearts and saw Watford win 3-2.

They made up in their next match, beating Reading 3-0 at the Madejski, which was followed by an enticing 4-3 victory against Huddersfield Town last weekend. However they lost their previous match in midweek, losing 3-2 to the League leaders, Norwich at the Bet365 Stadium.

Stoke’s 11 goals in four games has seen them become the second highest goalscorers in the Championship with 21 goals, with the likes of Tyrese Campbell among the ranks more goals will be expected.

But the nine goals let in at the other end means the Potters have conceded the fifth highest amount in the division with 18, a statistic which will no doubt concern Michael O’Neill.

Team News

For Sheffield Wednesday:

Kieren Westwood will be unavailable for this weekend’s game after picking up an injury in the draw at the Liberty Stadium in midweek. Josh Windass is continuing to serve his suspension. However, Kadeem Harris is in contention after serving his own three match ban.

For Stoke City:

Adam Davies and Angus Gunn are still out,  Former Owl Steven Fletcher will also be unavailable for the trip to Hillsborough after clashing with advertising boards in the midweek defeat to Stoke. James McClean could return after finishing his self-isolation period of ten days and could return to the line up.

Tony Pulis on his former club Stoke City:

“That club will never be just another club for myself because I spent so many years there and I have got so many friends there.

I have spoken about Peter Coates before. He is a wonderful chairman and man. The Coates’ family have invested millions of money in the club.

They back all their managers. There has been a revolving door for a while there in respect of managers. Hopefully they have got the right one now and they will stick for a while.

To their credit, they have given that manager the opportunity to bring in his own players and put his identity on the team.”

Michael O’Neill on the trip to South Yorkshire:

“I think tomorrow will be a different style of game for us, particularly given the league position that Sheffield Wednesday are in obviously.

“That will be a factor and it will certainly be a tough encounter. We have to take what we saw, particularly in the second half on Tuesday, forward into the game tomorrow.

“In terms of spirt, in terms of character, we can’t ask for any more, the games are coming very quickly and it’s a chance for us to return to winning ways.”

Last Season

Stoke came out on top in their previous meeting on Boxing Day. Going into the 90th minute Wednesday were 2-1 up, but two goals in stoppage time from Tyrese Campbell and Sam Vokes, secured the Potters a vital win in their bid to avoid relegation to League One.

Wednesday did come out in the reverse fixture however, a Massimo Luongo goal earned the South Yorkshire club a 1-0 win.

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