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Sheffield Wednesday writers discuss team to face Barnsley with one key position up for debate
Sheffield Wednesday are just a few days out from their 60th and final game of the 2022/23 campaign.
Darren Moore’s side travel to Wembley to face South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley in the League One play-off final on Bank Holiday Monday. The Owls want to dish out some revenge to the Reds, who were the only team to seal the double over them during the regular league campaign.
Michael Duff’s side were the only team to win at Hillsborough this season whilst their victory at Oakwell in March saw them halt Wednesday’s club record-setting 23-game unbeaten run. It means Wednesday, who will be backed by almost 44,000 fans in the capital, will be out to make it third time lucky and make a Championship return after a two-year absence.
With regards team selection, Moore has a few question marks in certain positions.
Read more: Darren Moore issues injury update on Dele-Bashiru, Byers and two others
Here, our Wednesday writer Ricky Charlesworth and EFL content editor Dom Howson predict their respective starting XIs for Wembley. See what you think and let us know what team you would choose….
Ricky Charlesworth
The Owls pulled off the comeback of all comebacks against Peterborough United in the play-off semi-final second leg to tee up a mouth-watering final at Wembley against local rivals Barnsley.
Wednesday’s players will be itching to hear the news that they’ve secured a starting spot at the home of football and Darren Moore has a few posers with regards his starting XI. But my approach would be simple – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Granted, the tactics against Posh in that momentous second leg had to be attack-minded and Moore went with four recognised strikers from the off – something that seems to be at odds with his usual set-up. But just look how well they played. The whole team put in a heroic shift and even with a few surprises – such as Liam Palmer stepping into midfield to replace Will Vaulks – Wednesday took it to their opponents.
Many fans have suggested Moore keeps faith with that same XI and I’m no different. Callum Paterson was simply outstanding at right wing-back, whilst the back three of Reece James, Michael Ihiekwe and Dominic Iorfa did a grand job in keeping their opponents quiet.
Palmer was superb in a role he played earlier in his career, too. Any changes Moore would make to this side would be to possibly shore it up in midfield. But I would simply ask the same XI to go again – if they don’t have momentum now, then they never will.
I’d fancy that same XI to get the job done, with the likes of Aden Flint, Vaulks and perhaps even George Byers in reserve.
Ricky’s predicted XI : Dawson, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, James, Paterson, Palmer, Bannan, Johnson, Windass, Smith, Gregory.
Dom Howson
Will Darren Moore name an unchanged starting XI for the Owls’ final match of a rollercoaster season? Or will he roll the dice and freshen things up?
Moore has got plenty of options at his disposal as he looks to lead the Owls back into the Championship after a two-year absence. It wouldn’t be a huge shock if Moore threw a huge curveball in there as he does like to keep the opposition guessing.
Cameron Dawson will start in goal and I think Moore will resist the temptation to tweak the back three. But Moore has got a difficult decision to make at right wing back. Does he stick with Callum Paterson or go with Liam Palmer? Paterson delivered a man of the match performance in the second leg so deserves to retain his place. Moore’s decision to start Palmer in central midfield worked a treat last time out.
Palmer could line up alongside captain Barry Bannan but who will fill the final midfield spot? My gut instinct is Will Vaulks will get the nod. Marvin Johnson is a shoo-in for the left wing back role.
A midfield three of Palmer, Bannan and Vaulks would mean one of Lee Gregory, Josh Windass and Michael Smith miss out. Gregory scored and ran himself into the ground in Wednesday’s remarkable Peterborough comeback, but Windass has been one of their standout performers this term.
He has to start and Smith is unlikely to be left out, having scored 20 plus goals in first year at the club. It would be incredibly harsh on Gregory but not everyone can play. Whoever is named on the bench will have an important part to play as there is every chance the tie could go the distance.
Dom’s predicted XI : Dawson, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, James, Paterson, Palmer, Bannan, Vaulks, Johnson Smith, Windass.
