By Aston
December 16 2005

Team news, manager previews, betting odds and the officials ahead of Towns game against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

Town will be without the services of Kevin Horlock who is still recovering from a knee injury, Billy Clarke dislocated his elbow and is out and Sam Parkin is also missing. On-loan striker Adam Proudlock is unavailable to play against Wednesday as part of the deal that took him to Town. Danny Haynes is expected to make his first start for Town while Jim Magilton could make his 300^th Town appearance.

 

Town manager Joe Royle: “I am fed up with us losing the first goal in games and on some occasions, like on Saturday at home to QPR, we have been behind twice before taking a point.

 

“We conceded the first goal the previous week against Wolves, although it was a wild deflection, and I can remember several other occasions this season when it has happened.

 

“That first goal is so important. Too often this season we have had to chase the game in order to get anything out of it.

 

“When everyone is fit I have no fears about us, but this habit of conceding the first goal in games has got to stop.

 

“It is also clear that we have to tighten up at the back during the second half of the season. As things stand, only Crewe have leaked more goals than us.

 

“There are mitigating circumstances, mainly the injuries to Jason De Vos and Jay McEveley, which have meant too many changes to the back four.

 

Town Squad: Dean Bowditch, Darren Currie, Jason De Vos, Nicky Forster, Owen Garvan, Danny Haynes, Jimmy Juan, Jim Magilton, Richard Naylor, Jaime Peters, Lewis Price, Matt Richards, Luis Sito, Shane Supple, Ian Westlake, Gavin Williams, Fabian Wilnis.

 

Former Town man Drissa Diallo is likely to start on the bench and John Hills may join him, while Lee Bullen, Steven MacLean, David Lucas and Jon-Paul McGovern are all going to miss the game with various injuries.

 

Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock: “They've taken about 50 goals out of their ranks through the transfers of Kuqi, Bent and Miller and they haven't handled it. We've had the same problem, through injuries so it's a mirror image of ourselves.

 

“They have vast experience in all sorts of areas and if you allow them time on the ball they are the best passing team in the league."

 

“If we get in their faces early, like we did against Leeds, I'm confident we can get a win.”

 

Match odds from William Hill:

Sheffield Wednesday: 11/8

Draw: 2/1

Town: 17/10

 

Officials:

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)

Assistant Referees: Paul Curry (Northumberland) and Brian Parry (Co Durham)

Fourth Official: Mark Haywood (Yorkshire)

 

Sources: Evening Star and Sheffield Wednesday - the official website.

 

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