Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton
English Championship
Date: 4 August 2023, Friday
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Hillsborough (Sheffield).

Two divisions separated Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton last season but the two outfits will now battle each other in the opening round of the 2023/24 Championship campaign on Friday evening at the Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday came just two points shy of Ipswich Town to fail in the bid for the automatic promotion last season in League One.

Nonetheless, they mustered two playoffs wins to secure the return to the second-class football after a two-year hiatus in the League One.

The Owls dispatched Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 1-0 in the playoffs final in May last year in what proved to be the last game in charge for manager Darren Moore who did not agree on terms of the new contract with the team.

The former Watford boss Xisco Munoz took over at the helm and he will make his debut in competitive football for Sheffield Wednesday here against Southampton.

The Saints, on the other side, finished the last season 11 points shy of safety, ending at the very foot of the Premier League standings.

They have lost many players in between the two campaigns, including Diallo, Elyounoussi, Walcott, and Orsic.

The main star James Ward-Prowse is still there but his status with the team is questionable given there is almost a month left before the end of the transfer window.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton Head-to-head

• These two outfits locked horns in the third round of the League Cup last year when Southampton advanced on penalties after a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s Stadium.
• The Saints have managed only 4 wins in the previous 24 visits to the Hillsborough.
• We did not see three or more goals in any of the previous seven head to head games between these counterparts.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton Prediction

Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in 25 straight home matches at the Hillsborough in competitive football, keeping their net untouched in 13 of these along the way. Neither of these outfits have shown decent form in preseason, winning only game exhibition each this summer.

Both teams are under new management and we do not expect the most beautiful game of football as the players will likely need time to adjust to new systems. In these circumstances, the Under 2.5 goals FT is the best betting option at the odds of 1.80. We will also back the hosts not to lose at the 1.66 odds.

• Under 2.5 goals FT @ 1.80 (4/5)

• Sheffield Wednesday to win or draw @ 1.66 (4/6) odd.