By Eamonn Moore
After all of the furore over Simon Grayson’s acrimonious exit, Tony Parkes and Steve Thompson take charge of the Seasiders for their visit to Hillsborough.
The Seasiders head into the game on the back of last week’s home draw against Swansea (Grayson’s last game in charge), and will be looking to exact revenge on the Owls after losing to them at Bloomfield Road earlier in the season.
Wednesday meanwhile come into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat away at Cardiff and will be looking for three points that will move them closer to the playoff places.
Vital Quotes:
Brian Laws: ‘I always enjoy Boxing Day games. Everyone is fed up with Christmas Day and wants to get out of the house and do some shouting!’
Karl Oyston: ‘Tony and Steve are now in charge until further notice.
‘What happens next? Nothing happens next. This is an indefinite appointment and I’m not prepared to set a timescale or indeed a deadline.
‘In an ideal world Tony and Steve would do fantastically well and both seamlessly take over the club.
‘I think upheaval never serves the best interests of a football club so to appoint from within is generally, in my experience and opinion, the best way forward.
‘I am going to continue to monitor the situation and obviously it is very fluid at the moment. But that is the situation and I’m setting no deadlines and not having any timescales imposed.’
Sheffield Wednesday Team News:
Steve Watson, Wade Small and Francis Jeffers are all back in contention for the Owls after missing last week’s trip to Wales.
Leon Clarke is set to miss out with a hamstring strain, whilst Nathan Modest who made his debut for the club last week is struggling with a knee injury.
Jermaine Johnson and Etienne Esajas remain sidelined while Akpo Sodje, Richard Hinds and Peter Gilbert are long-term absentees.
Player to watch: Marcus Tudgay
The striker has notched seven goals thus far this season, making him the club’s top scorer.
Blackpool Team News:
Rob Edwards is still struggling with an ankle injury, so Alex John-Baptiste is likely to deputise again.
Stephen Crainey and Jermaine Wright remain absentees, but David Vaughan and Daniel Nardiello could come into the mix should Parkes and Thompson elect to make changes.
Player to watch: Kyel Reid
The young winger on loan from West Ham has impressed down the left in recent weeks and has formed a good partnership with left back Joe Martin.
Match Facts & Stats
The clubs have met seventy three times in the past, with Wednesday having recorded thirty seven wins to Blackpool’s twenty four with twelve draws.
The last time that the Seasiders won at Hillsborough was in the 2003/4 season.
Ref Watch:
Mike Oliver takes charge. This season he has officiated eighteen games, showing forty three yellows and three red cards.
Match Prediction:
This was always going to be a tough game, more so after the departure of Grayson. I’d love to say that I think the lads will respond by recording a win, but I think that the Owls will sneak it. Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Blackpool
Next Fixtures:
Sheffield Wednesday travel to Coventry on the 28th, whilst the next evening the Seasiders play host to Wolves live on Sky.
