SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (home) 06.02.2010

Nottingham Forest will be striving to hit winning ways once more after suffering a rare defeat - at the hands of rivals Derby County. Sheffield Wednesday travel to Trentside, after re-discovering their winning ability, notching 4 wins in 5 since Alan Irvine took charge at Hillsborough. However, the Owls' have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12, and Forest have proved sharp-shooters recently at The City Ground.

Team news: Forest; Billy Davies' failed to add any signings before the transfer deadline, and with Nicky Shorey moving elsewhere, James Perch looks to have a run in the side at left-back. Despite the poor showing at Pride Park, Davies is not expected to make wholesale changes. Guy Moussi may find his way back into the team. Wes Morgan seems to have recovered from an injury scare after coming through the Derby game unscathed.

Wednesday: Defender Lewis Buxton is out after suffering a hamstring problem. American defender Frank Simek looks set to deputise. Former Arsenal youngster Simek has started just 9 league games over the past 2 seasons. Forward Akpo Sodje has joined Charlton for the remainder of the campaign. Forgotten man Francis Jeffers is a doubt after picking up an injury in a midweek reserve game. The 29-year-old has started just 1 game this season, and has scored only 16 league goals over NINE seasons. On-loan Derby man Luke Varney has looked sharp since Alan Irvine took charge and may be one for the Reds to watch.

Owls' last game; Plymouth (H) W 2-1 [Varney 24,42]; Grant, Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr, Soares, Potter, O'Connor, Gray, Tudgay, Varney. Subs used; Simek, Sodje.

The Owls; 3 to watch out for: 7. Marcus Tudgay (age 27) Striker. 09/10 lge: app 25(1). Goals 8. Yellow cards 2. Assists 7. *has scored 46 goals for the club over 5 seasons.

17. James O'Connor (age 30). Midfield. 09/10 App; 26. Goals 2. Yellow cards 4. Assists 1.

1. Lee Grant (age 27). Goalkeeper. 09/10 App; 28. Clean sheets 4.

STATS: Manager; Alan Irvine (Scotland)  Appointed; 08/01/2010 (P5 W4 L1)

Current position; 19th; P28 W8 D7 L13 F33 A45 PTS 31 (away W3 D4 L7)

Form; WLWWWD (form guide; joint top with Forest, 13 points)

Goals: 37 (33 lge + 4 cup): Tudgay 8. Johnson 6 (4+2cup), Varney 6, Clarke 3, Esajas 3 (2+1cup). Gray/ Wood/ O'Connor - 2.

Yellow cards: 40 (Buxton/ O'Connor 5). Red cards 1 (Jeffers). Clean sheets: 5 (inc 1 cup) Failed to score: 11 (inc 1 cup). 0-0's: 2. Most assists: Tudgay 8 (inc 1 cup).

Average attendance; 22,268. Capacity; 39,812 (56% full). High; 30,644 v Barnsley.

Head-to-head: Forest wins 48, Wednesday 55. Draws 26. *The Owls have won 3 of their last 6 visits to The City Ground.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland) 09/10; games 21. Yellow cards 65. Red cards 0. *The last Forest game he officiated was back in December 2004 when Sunderland won 2-1 at The City Ground in a Championship fixture (8 yellows, 1 red- Robertson).

It's a fact.. The Wednesday (as they were originally known) are the 5th oldest English League Club. Their nickname; 'The Owls', originates from Owlerton - where their first ground was built, adjacent to their current Hillsborough home. Before that, they were known as 'The Blades' (as were all Sheffield clubs at the time).

PL's punt... Forest to get back to winning ways, but it won't be easy. 2-0 to the Reds, Cohen to net first.