Following an impressive and much-needed four-game winning run between mid-February and early March, Sheffield Wednesday have since been brought back down to earth after losing successive games against Leeds United and Ipswich Town, suffering a heavy 6-0 away defeat to the latter before the international break.
The Owls were four goals down inside the first 49 minutes at Portman Road, before Ali Al-Hamadi rubbed salt into their wounds with two late goals to condemn Danny Rohl to his heaviest defeat as a manager.
All hope is not lost for 23rd-placed Sheffield Wednesday, though, as they are only one point adrift of safety and have a strong chance of ending the weekend outside of the relegation zone, if they come out on top against Swansea and other results go their way.
The international break has been a period for Rohl and co to reflect and regroup ahead of their final eight Championship games of the season, and they enter this crucial stage in the season aware that their home form could be key in their quest to avoid the drop, considering that they have picked up 25 of their 38 points at Hillsborough so far this term.
Sheffield Wednesday have won their previous three home league matches on Good Friday, but success is not a given against Swansea as they have failed to win any of their last five meetings with the Welsh outfit.
contrast to the Owls, Swansea entered the international break on a high after beating rivals Cardiff City 2-0 on home soil, courtesy of goals either side of half time from Liam Cullen and Jamal Lowe.
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The Swans’ derby delight represents just the fifth win under head coach Luke Williams since he took the reins in January, and with 10 points accumulated across their last five matches, the Welsh side have climbed up to 15th in the table, seven points clear of the bottom three.
Williams is aware that his side cannot rest on their laurels just yet, as there is still plenty of work to be done to preserve their Championship status for a seventh successive season, but they now appear to be in a strong position to survive, especially with favourable-looking fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham United, Stoke City and Huddersfield Town on the horizon.
Swansea head into Friday’s contest having won only two of their last 10 away games in all competitions, but they came out on top in their last visit to Hillsborough, winning 2-0 in April 2021 – the Swans have never won consecutive visits to the Owls in their league history.
