After the first defeat of the season for The Owls at Fortress Hillsborough last Saturday against Charlton Athletic, the Owls are looking to get straight back on track.

Wednesdayite.com match previewer Ricky Charlesworth previews the Owls v Hartlepool United League One game which takes place at Hillsborough Stadium on Saturday 21st January 2012 with a 3pm kick off.

 

WEDNESDAY v HARTLEPOOL PREVIEW
Saturday 21 January 2012
Hillsborough
3pm KO

LOWDOWN
After the disappointment of last weekend, Wednesday have a perfect chance of a pick-me-up this Saturday.

The Owls are at home to a Hartlepool, and with home backing against an out-of-sorts side, a home win looks a decent bet. Add into the mix that the top two are playing each other, and it could turn out to be a more-than decent weekend for Wednesday.

Pools arrive in S6 on the back of mixed form, but with a formidable away record. They have 33 points so far this season, and 22 of those have come away from the North East. New manager Neale Cooper, in his second spell at the club, has overseen four points taken from four matches – just the kind of form he would expect of the mid-table Pools. 

As far as issues on the Wednesday transfer front are concerned, manager Gary Megson confirmed on Thursday that he has bidded for five loan players, and seen all five offers rejected. It is worth noting that already this month Wednesday have seen James O’Connor, Mark Reynolds, Giles Coke all depart whilst the loan stays of Ben Marshall, James Tavernier and Sanchez Watt have all come to an end.

Any further re-inforcements, to add to the signatures of Mike Jones, Miguel Llera and Stephen Bywater, are likely to be done in the final week of the window. 

TEAM NEWS
Megson has no major injuries within the squad at present. Lewis Buxton is back in training and Gary Madine played an hour in last week’s game against Charlton as he continued his comeback to full fitness. 

Ben Marshall has now returned to Stoke so his place will be filled by either David Prutton or Jermaine Johnson. Up front, Madine may continue alongside O’Grady or Megson could hand a start to Ryan Lowe. 

PROBABLE LINE-UP
Weaver; 
R Johnson, R Jones, Batth, Otsemobor; 
Prutton or J Johnson, Lines, Semedo, M Jones;
O’Grady, Madine

LAST MEETING
October 2011 - Hartlepool 0-1 THE OWLS (Reda Johnson) Wednesday nabbed the points up at Victoria Park to inflict a first defeat of the season on Pools. 

DID YOU KNOW?
Wednesday have an outstanding record against Pools, winning the last six matches and they have only ever lost once to the North East outfit.

Up the Owls
Ricky. 
 

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