PREVIEW: Sheffield Wednesday v Luton Town

Sheffield Wednesday have already made some inroads into the 12-point deduction they were handed back in July which seriously threatened their status as a Championship club this term.

Beginning well below the rest after an independent disciplinary panel found the Owls guilty of breaking spending rules, by including the sale of their Hillsborough Stadium home in their 2017-18 accounts despite the ground being sold a year later, left Garry Monk's side with an uphill task.

They immediately clawed three points back, beating Cardiff away on the opening day, and were down to minus eight when drawing 0-0 with Watford.

Defeat at Bristol City followed, while Wednesday also drew with QPR, but a welcome 1-0 win at Birmingham saw the gap closed even further.

Monk's men had another set-back in midweek, beaten 2-1 by Brentford, but with just six matches gone, they are now a mere four points adrift of Wycombe Wanderers, and seven away from getting out of the relegation zone.

If the Owls could sort out their dire home form, then they might be even closer, but this term has carried on where last finished.

So far, they have managed one draw and two defeats at Hillsborough, that coming after finishing the previous campaign by failing to triumph in any of their last five fixtures, meaning there has been no win since a 1-0 success over Charlton on February 26, taking just four points from a possible 27.

Before that, they went five without a victory, including a 5-0 thrashing by Blackburn Rovers, meaning the Owls have won just once on home soil this calendar year.

Speaking about the problems, Monk said: “I totally get the statistics of the home form but I’m judging it on this season.

"It’s a new group, it’s different to before.

"The past is the past, I am looking at it from this season. We can't do anything about last season.

"We are trying to move in a different way and let's see what the home record is at the end of this season.

“We have been a bit unlucky, QPR should have been a win.

"In terms of where we’re heading, let’s judge it on this season.

"We have only lost one game at home this season, the stats are always there and I take the responsibility for it.”

Wednesday made two moves ahead of the transfer window closing last week, signing ex-Luton striker Jack Marriott on a a season-long loan deal from Derby County, and bringing in towering Cardiff defender Aden Flint.

The Owls have certainly pushed the boat out to try and stay up this term, with the summer additions of Wigan duo Chey Dunkley and Josh Windass, plus Huddersfield's Elias Kachunga and Korede Adedoyin from Everton.

Callum Paterson arrived from Cardiff as well, with Chelsea midfielder Izzy Brown, another known well to Town fans, joining for the campaign.

Going out were a few old favourites though as Fernando Foriesteri went to Udinese, Steven Fletcher and Morgan Fox both headed to Stoke and Atdhe Nuhiu moved to Apoel Nicosia.

Team news: Luton could have Harry Cornick back in contention after he wasn't used during Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat at Millwall because of a groin issue.

Top scorer James Collins is out after testing positive for coronavirus, with Dan Potts and James Bree both still rated as doubtful, Eunan O'Kane and Brendan Calloway not close to featuring either.

For Wednesday, Massimo Luongo misses out with a knee injury, with Chey Dunkley absent as well, while Izzy Brown, Dominic Iorfa and Tom Lees are all back in training.

Top scorers: Hatters – James Collins (4). Owls – Josh Windass (2).

Milestones: Town skipper Sonny Bradley will make his 100th appearance for the club if selected on Saturday.

The centre half, who joined on a free transfer after leaving Plymouth Argyle in July 2018, has managed three goals and it will be the first time he has reached three figures for a club in his career.

Man in the middle: Geoff Eltringham - taken four games this season, showing 11 yellow cards and is yet to officiate a home win, the away side triumphing on each occasion.

The County Durham referee had 31 matches last term, only once not producing any cards, with 100 bookings and two reds.

Had Luton twice, the 2-0 win at Huddersfield once the campaign resumed again, and 2-0 defeat at Derby County.

That was his first Town fixture since the thrilling 3-2 win at York City in February 2016, when Olly Lee scored a wonderful stoppage time strike.

He also had the whistle for the 1-1 draw at Accrington on the opening day of that campaign, plus Luton's 1-0 win over Wolves in the FA Cup in January 2014.

Assistant referees are Rob Smith and Craig Taylor, with the fourth official Leigh Doughty.

In charge: Garry Monk – Bedford-born, he began his career as an apprentice with Torquay United, moving to Southampton in May 1997.

Spells with Stockport County, Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley followed, heading to Swansea City in June 2004.

Played over 220 games for the Swans, as he was named player-manager in February 2014, following the sacking of Michael Laudrup.

Reached the last 32 of the Europa League Group, ensuring Premier League survival and became permanent manager in May 2014, leading the Swans to eighth place.

After 12 years with the club, Monk was sacked in December 2015, appointed head coach at Leeds United in June 2016, as the Whites finished the season in seventh, resigning following the takeover at Elland Road by Andrea Radrizzani.

Back in work at Middlesbrough on June 9, 2017, but lasted just six months, replaced by Tony Pulis in December and then headed to Birmingham in March 2018, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Kept the Blues up, but in June 2019, he was sacked after a reported breakdown of his relationship with chief executive Xuandong Ren.

Back in work just over 12 months ago, taking over at Hillsborough, ensuring the Owls finished 16th last season.

View from the opposition: Garry Monk talking to the Examiner Live - “Luton are doing well and it will be another tough Championship game.

“We need to hit the levels we’ve shown and put in a high level performance. Every game is pivotal now.

“Nathan has done fantastically well.

“It didn’t quite work out for him at Stoke but Luton looks like a good fit for him.

“He did exceptionally well in his first spell there and has fitted in again going back there.

“He has delivered results all the way through to now.

“Luton have done exceptionally well in the past few seasons and it will be another tough Championship game.

“They have had a good start to the season, but we have to concentrate on ourselves and deliver a high level performance.”

One to watch: Callum Paterson - Scottish international midfielder started out at Hearts, playing over 150 times before moving to Cardiff in June 2017.

Netted 21 goals in more than 100 appearances for the Bluebirds until he was snapped up by the Owls in September for an undisclosed fee.

Has had three outings for his new club so far, with a first goal in Wednesday's 2-1 home defeat to Brentford.

Friendly faces: Luton first team coach Paul Hart had a spell at Sheffield Wednesday during his playing days.

Signed from Nottingham Forest in 1985, he made over 50 appearances, until leaving the following year for Birmingham City.

Owls midfielder Izzy Brown, 23, was borrowed by Wednesday from Chelsea in the summer, the ninth club of his career already, playing four times for his new club so far.

Spent last term at Kenilworth Road, scoring once in 28 games as injury hampered his time with Luton.

Striker Jack Marriott headed to Hillsborough from Derby County on transfer deadline day last week.

The 26-year-old arrived at Luton from Ipswich in May 2015, netting 28 goals in 91 games, as he was sold to Peterborough in June 2017.

Went to Derby in July 2018 and scored his only goal this season at Kenilworth Road in a 2-1 defeat for the Rams, before moving to Wednesday, playing twice so far.

Played for both: Scott Oakes - Leicester born attacker came through the ranks at Filbert Street, moving to Luton in 1991 as part of the deal that took Steve Thompson to the Foxes.

Became a real fans favourite at Kenilworth Road, scoring 34 goals in 200 games, including some marvellous strikes as he was also capped once for England U21s, picking the best 11 that he played with at Town recently.Moved to Wednesday for a fee of £425,000 in August 1996 but only made 27 appearances for the Owls, a knee injury hampering his career.

Left Hillsborough for Burnley in August 2000, swiftly moving to Cambridge United and then Leyton Orient as he dropped into non-league before retiring.

We've got form: Luton Town haven't had much joy at all during their trips to Hillsborough.

They began with a 6-0 hammering in Division Two back in 1899, beaten 4-0 and 4-1 in their next two visits as well.

Town had to wait for their 12th visit, some 71 years later to experience that winning feeling, after eight losses and three draws, as they did it in style, Malcolm MacDonald's hat-trick and two for Don Givens sealing a 5-1 success.

It didn't lead to a resurgence though, Luton going another nine games and 16 years until winning again, a Division One game in November 1987, Ian Allinson and Mark Stein on target in a 2-0 victory.

Another five winless games followed, before Town did enjoy some form in the manner of back-to-back Championship triumphs in the Championship, both coming in 2006, with a goalless draw making it five unbeaten.

However, that run was ended last term, as Town have managed just four wins, 11 draws and 16 defeats from their 30 trips, scoring 30 goals while shipping 58.

Last time out: Luton suffered a 1-0 defeat at Hillsbrough last season when Kadeem Harris' 54th minute goal was enough to defeat the Hatters.

With the visitors looking to launch an attack, Simon Sluga's throw out was seized upon by an Owls attacker and Steven Fletcher's back-post header prodded home by Harris to decide the contest.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie (Luke Bolton 59), James Bree, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie, Jacob Butterfield (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 74), Harry Cornick, James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua (Izzy Brown 69).

Subs not used: James Shea, Lloyd Jones, George Moncur, Elliot Lee.

Referee: David Webb.

Attendance: 23,353.