A full match preview ahead of tonight’s Sky Bet Championship game between Blues and Sheffield Wednesday at St. Andrew's (7.45pm kick-off).
Clark on his team moving in the right direction...
"In all honesty at this stage of the season and with what’s happened we should be in the top six. We let two points go at Brentford, two at Ipswich and two on Saturday (against Leeds United), which would have put us on 12 points and sixth in the table. We’ve been undone against Brentford and certainly Saturday by individual errors. The lads know about that but they don’t need lambasting for that because they don’t purposefully make mistakes. It’s frustrating for us but it shows we’re going in the right direction. There was never any stage in the past two years where I’ve been able to say that. There is a different mentality to this group. I think everyone connected with the club can see a different philosophy and one that I’ve tried to bring in from the day I walked through the door, but for whatever reasons I wasn’t able to do it. This season in terms of our performance levels it shows it’s the right way to do it."
Clark on Brek Shea's debut at the weekend...
"It was a very good debut. He was never going to complete the full game because he hasn’t played enough football. I think he’s added a new dimension. We’ve got that balance with him being left-footed. He’s a powerful player and a threat in the air. I think it’s only going to get better for him. That was a good start, but as he gets fitter I’m sure he’ll produce some high quality performances for us."
Clark on turning draws into victories...
"We’ve got to try and turn these good performances into wins rather than just draws and that would make a hell of a difference. Every time we make a mistake at the moment we seem to get punished. We need to start killing games off."
Clark on Sheffield Wednesday...
"They’ve started the season brilliantly. To be fair during Stuart’s (Gray) tenure they’ve been one of the form teams in the league. They are very similar to us in terms of how they play with high intensity. They had 24 attempts at goal on Saturday and they’ve come away with a 0-0. Their away form has been great, so we’re expecting an extremely tough game. If they’re using last season’s performance (when Blues beat the Owls 4-1 at St. Andrew's) as motivation it will be even more difficult. It’s a completely different Sheffield Wednesday group anyway. We’re expecting a different kind of test to what we got Saturday. If Stuart sticks to his 4-4-2 system I think whichever team has more players that win their individual battles will win the game."
Clark on what he wants from his own players...
"We’ve just got to play our normal game and perform the way we’ve played at home in the three league games and two cup ties. We’re creating chances and playing a lot of football in the opponents' half of the pitch and we look powerful. When the chances come we meed to be a little bit more clinical."
Team news...
Grant Hall is the latest Blues player to join the injured list. The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender picked up a slight groin strain against Leeds United on Saturday. He will miss tonight's game, but has an outside chance of being available for the trip to Norwich City at the weekend. Koby Arthur has been recalled early from his loan spell at Cheltenham Town and goes straight into the squad. Lee Novak (knee), Denny Johnstone (thigh), Olly Lee (hamstring) Gavin Gunning (knee) and Matt Green (knee) remain out. Matt Green has suffered a set-back with his rehabilitation from a knee injury which is expected to keep him out for at least two more months.
Ticket news…
This match is a Grade C fixture. For prices and purchasing details, please click here.
Match Officials...
Referee James Adcock will take charge of the game. This will be the eighth game of the season for the Nottinghamshire-based official. In his seven matches so far he has produced 23 yellow cards and one red. The last Blues game he refereed was the club's 2-0 Championship win away at Charlton Athletic in February 2014. Five players were cautioned on that day, including Paul Robinson, Emyr Huws and Federico Macheda for Blues. Mr Adcock will be assisted by Nigel Smith and Grant Taylor.
Betting
If you want to place a bet on the game, use Sky Bet and they will give a share of the revenue back to Blues. Plus sign-up now and get a free matched bet up to £30. Just click here. Looking to tonight's game, a win for Blues is priced at 9/5, the draw at 23/10 and a Sheffield Wednesday victory at 6/4.
Statzone
- There have been 87 league and cup meetings between the two clubs. Blues have won 34 of them, Sheffield Wednesday 30 and 27 have ended all-square.
- Both sides won their corresponding Championship home fixtures 4-1 last season. Jesse Lingard scored all four of Blues' goals on his debut for the club.
- The first meeting between the clubs was an FA Cup tie in Sheffield in January 1892, which the Owls won 2-0.
- Blues' biggest home win against the Owls was a 5-1 success in April 1906 in the old First Division.
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