Match Preview: Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland

Sunderland are looking to book a place at Wembley for the League One Play-off final as they travel to Hillsborough with a 1-0 lead over their opponents Sheffield Wednesday.  

Ross Stewart scored the only goal of the game in the first leg as The Black Cats ran out winners in front of a Play-off record 44,742 people, at the Stadium of Light.  

Wednesday, however, have sold out the second leg and with the club boasting the best home record in the division, will not go into the game too disheartened.  

The game, over two legs, is set to be an EFL record in terms of attendance – looking likely to break 75,000 fans overall.  

The winner of the tie will face Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley after the Chairboys beat MK Dons 2-1 over their two legs.  

Team News:  

The first leg saw Dennis Cirkin and Callum Doyle return to Sunderland’s matchday squad after the two missed the final game of the season.  

Manager Alex Neil is increasingly confident that forward Nathan Broadhead could feature in the second leg.  

Leon Dajaku (illness) and Carl Winchester (groin) both look likely to miss out at Hillsborough.  

Defender Harlee Dean returned to the Owls eleven on Friday night following a month out with a calf injury.  

Dominic Iorfa and Ciaran Brennan both remain sidelined.  

Head-to-Head:  

This fixture in the league saw Wednesday win 3-0 and the Owls will hope to replicate this result on Monday night.  

Before Friday, Sunderland’s 5-0 win over the owls in December was the Black Cats first win over Wednesday in the last five.  

Match Information:  

Kick-off at Hillsborough is at 19:45 on Monday 9th of May.