Sheffield Wednesday will travel to Ewood Park this weekend in one of their most important fixtures against Blackburn Rovers in a long time.
The Owls find themselves only a point from safety and could finally move out of the relegation zone with a win, but will also be relying on Huddersfield and Birmingham to drop points elsewhere.
Blackburn will be brimming with confidence after causing an upset at Elland Road last time out, but may get complacent after taking a huge step to avoiding the drop themselves.
Sheffield Wednesday need to be at their very best this weekend if they are to give themselves a fighting chance, though their record at Ewood Park hasn’t been good for a few years now.
The Yorkshire club have failed to beat Blackburn on the road in their last three attempts, with their last win coming in September 2016.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side claimed a 1-0 win against Blackburn, before eventually going onto finish fourth in the Championship and reaching the play-off semi-finals.
Here is Wednesday’s XI when they beat Blackburn that day…
Blackburn 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday – 27th September 2016
KIEREN WESTWOOD was Sheffield Wednesday’s first-choice goalkeeper for many years after joining from Sunderland, becoming arguably the ‘best’ shot-stopper the club had ever had. He went onto join QPR on a free transfer in 2022 and now plays for Crewe.
SAM HUTCHINSONspent six years at Hillsborough before joining Cypriot side Pafos, then returning to Wednesday in 2021. The defender joined Reading a year later but has struggled to earn a regular starting spot.
TOM LEESmade 274 appearances for the Owls before his time at the club was brought to an end through injury. He was released in 2021 and went onto join Huddersfield, helping them reach the Championship play-offs in his first season.
KIERAN LEE joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2012 but struggled to retain a regular spot in the starting line-up, despite staying at Hillsborough for eight years. The midfielder joined Bolton Wanderers in 2021, winning promotion to League One and also claiming the EFL Trophy last season. He is now a free agent.
LIAM PALMERhas spent a majority of his life with boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday, making a whopping 433 appearances for the club. The 32-year-old continues to play a key role under Danny Rohl, but could leave at the end of his contract this summer.
ADAM REACHspent five years at Hillsborough after joining from Middlesbrough in a £5m deal. The midfielder was named Player of the Year in the 2018-19 season and went onto score 24 goals and provide 34 assists in 230 games. Reach has spent the last three years with West Brom.
BARRY BANNAN has remained a key part of Wednesday’s squad and is the current club captain. The midfielder has recently spoken out about his frustration regarding the club’s contract situation, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
DAVID JONES had only just joined the Owls that summer, spending three seasons at the club. He only made one appearance in the 2018-19 season before he was released, then went onto enjoy brief spells with Oldham and Wrexham. He is now a coach with the Welsh club.
WILL BUCKLEY joined Wednesday on loan from Sunderland in 2016 and made 12 appearances in all competitions, though his spell was hampered by injuries. He went onto play for Bolton, before retiring in 2021.
STEVEN FLETCHER was the only goalscorer the last time they beat Blackburn at Ewood Park. The striker joined Wednesday as a free agent and went onto score 38 goals in 136 games. He went onto play for Stoke City, Dundee United and now Wrexham.
GARY HOOPER had spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Hillsborough before joining permanently from Norwich for £3m that summer. The striker picked up an impressive tally of 31 goals and 12 assists in 89 games before he was released. He has since spent most of his career away from the UK with the likes of Wellington Phoenix and Omonia, but has played for Barnet since October.
The post Liam Palmer & 38-goal free agent: Sheffield Wednesday's XI when they last won at Ewood Park in 2016 appeared first on Sheffield Wednesday News.
