Preview: Blackpool FA Cup (h)

A trip to Premier League Everton is at stake, can the Owls cause a minor upset again?

The Owls got back to winning ways against Yeovil but the League campaign takes a back seat for tonight as we look to advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup in a replay against Blackpool.

All stats come from Soccerbase and Soccernet

Last Home Game	Opposition	Result	Shots	On Target	Corners	Cards	Fouls	Possession
WEDNESDAY	Yeovil	W 2-1	11	3	6	3	14	58%

Last Away Game	Opposition	Result	Shots	On Target	Corners	Cards	Fouls	Possession
BLACKPOOL	Cardiff	W 1-3	13	6	3	1	13	53%

The Owls looked to be heading for another frustrating result after Obika put Yeovil ahead, a Jermaine Johnson stunner levelled it up and from then on it looked like there would only be one winner and that came courtesy of Reda Johnson’s tap in after good work from Clinton Morrison.

Blackpool have picked up a recent knack of scoring late goals, all their strikes against Cardiff came in the last 15 minutes of the game, that being said it was no more than they deserved having bossed the game.

LAST 5 GAMES	Yeovil (h)	MK Dons (a)	Blackpool (a)	Scunthorpe (a)	Hartlepool (h)
Wednesday	W 2-1	D 1-1	D 1-1	W 1-3	D 2-2

LAST 5 GAMES	Cardiff (a)	Coventry (h)	Wednesday (h)	Crystal Palace (h)	Ipswich (a)
Blackpool	W 1-3	W 2-1	D 1-1	W 2-1	D 2-2

The Owls go into this one unbeaten in five albeit winning only two of said five,they started February the right way having only won three out of seven in January.

Blackpool are unbeaten in seven going into this one and are unbeaten in 2012 so far, their last defeat being at Birmingham on New Year’s Eve.

HEAD 2 HEAD	WEDNESDAY WINS	BLACKPOOL WINS	DRAWS
	39	24	15

LAST MEETING
28th January 2012,Bloomfield Road, Att – 14042
Blackpool 1-1 Wednesday
(K Phillips 90 pen)(C Morrison 52)

This is the third meeting of the season between the two sides with both previous ones having been stalemates, Wednesday won the League Cup tie on a penalty shootout in what was essentially a glorified reserve team fixture.

The previous meeting saw Blackpool get a draw courtesy of a controversial penalty decision, Blackpool however have only won one of the last ten meetings between the two

MEGSON’S MOB

Think there may be a few changes for this one with a busy period of fixtures fast approaching.

Miguel Llera and Mike Jones are cup tied for this one and Rob Jones has been struggling with injury recently so Mark Beevers may be brought into the team.

Lowe and Morrison may get a start upfront although I get the feeling Otsemobor may continue at right back with Lewis Buxton getting eased back into action. Jermaine Johnson has been unplayable of late but he may be used as an impact sub here and Chris Lines may also get a recall.

No new injury or suspension worries for the Owls and the Seasiders are missing Ian Evatt through suspension.

 BYWATER

	OTSEMOBOR		BATTH		BEEVERS		R JOHNSON
	BOSTOCK		LINES		PRUTTON		SEDGWICK
			LOWE		MORRISON

KEY PLAYERS – TOP TRUMPS

Clinton Morrison isn’t our first choice striker but he can still offer a lot to Sheffield Wednesday as he showed in the first tie against Blackpool with his intelligent finish. His contractual dispute resolved, he’s been back in the team in recent games and has played his part setting up the winner against Yeovil

Kevin Phillips is a name that gives most Wednesdayites sleepless nights, his late equaliser in the first game that set up this one the most recent of late goals that have blighted Wednesday defences and fans for years. Now in the twilight of his career, he shows no sign of getting off the goal trail any time soon.

THE BETTING BOX:5 OF THE BEST

BET	Wednesday WIN	Blackpool WIN	DRAW	Morrison 1st Goal	Correct Score 1-1
BEST ODDS	8/5	15/8	5/2	8/1	13/2
BOOKIES

Wednesday are slight outsiders here with Ladbrokes offering them at 8/5, Blackpool are 15/8 with Chandlers and the draw is 5/2 at the same firm.

With recent games between the two not exactly being goalfests under 3 goals at 11/1o with Chandlers looks tempting as does Kevin Phillips to score anytime at 11/4 at Hills with him being 8/1 at Chandlers to score last.

The draw is what catches my eye though and I think 5/2 is a very good price for it, if you want to be a bit more adventurous go 1-1 at 13/2 with Coral

HERE COMES D-JUDGE

We’re back on track in the league campaign and we know what’s at stake here but I get the feeling that neither team have it as their highest priority with both being engaged in the task of trying to win promotion from their respective leagues.

That being said I think we’ll approach it with more seriousness than the League Cup and try to win the game but it won’t be the be-all and end-all if we fail to win.

I would like a bit of momentum heading down to Exeter at the weekend though.

VERDICT:- I get a feeling that this is going all the way down to a penalty shoot-out and given we don’t win them very often I’d tilt the scales in favour of the opposition. As for the scoreline it’s another 1-1.

Danny (D-Good)
Owls Alive
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