Wednesdayite.com match reporter Ricky Charlesworth previews the league one top of the table clash against Carlisle United, taking place on Saturday 11th September, which is sure to bring a decent sized crowd to Hillsborough.

After a week to forget, Wednesday will look to remain top dogs in League One with a morale boosting victory in the top-of-the-table clash at Hillsborough against Carlisle.

An eventful week in S6 first saw a poor performance and a first defeat of the season at Brentford, before a midweek flirtation with financial oblivion. Thankfully, the Owls live to fight another day, and go into the game against the Cumbrians without any new injury concerns from that reverse in the capital.

Only Jermaine Johnson occupies the sparsely-populated injury room, with the Jamaican winger expected back in the next few weeks. As far as the starting line up on Saturday is concerned, manager Alan Irvine will certainly have a selection dilemma, but not in the good way.

A number of players failed to perform in front of the TV cameras last weekend, and as a result could see their starting jersey lost. Among those potentially at risk include Tommy Spurr and Chris Sedgwick.

As for the visitors, they arrive in Sheffield with an unbeaten league record still intact. They triumphed over Brentford and MK Dons, whilst draws against Plymouth, Swindon and Colchester ensure they travel south looking to continue their good run of form.

Among the players that will be in their party, are erstwhile Owls Frankie Simek and Graham Kavanagh. American defender Simek, 25, made well over a century of appearances in five loyal years at the club before being released at the end of last season. Before a fateful injury occurred at Crystal Palace in 2007, Simek became a firm fan favourite, gaining International recognition and attracting admiring glances from a number of Premier League clubs.

Silver-fox Kavanagh spent two separate loan spells at the club in the 2007-08 season, becoming a key figure in the centre of the park as Wednesday narrowly avoided demotion to the third tier. The veteran scored two goals for the club, before departing for pastures new at current club Carlisle, where he is player-coach.

Both players are expected to receive a warm reception on Saturday.

As far as Carlisle’s squad is concerned, they would not have expected to be fighting near the top of the table, certainly not at this early stage. The departure of Ian Harte on deadline day was a key blow, with the Irish set-piece specialist joining Championship outfit Reading. Carlisle snapped up defensive loanees James Chester and Lubomir Michalik to soften the blow, but will struggle to replace Harte’s goal contribution, which totalled sixteen last season.

RICKY'S PREDICTION: although second in the league, they will miss Harte’s set piece skills, and a comfortable home win looks on the cards.
 
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