Sheffield Wednesday vs Bradford City – News and Probable Lineups

Following their successful starts in League One last weekend, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City will clash in the second round of matches when they meet at Hillsborough on Thursday.

Both sides have secured victories in their initial competitive outings this season, first triumphing in the first round of the EFL Cup before beginning their campaigns in the third tier on Saturday.

Match overview

Sheffield Wednesday approaches their second League One fixture of the 2026-27 season and their third across all competitions, eager to maintain their flawless start.

They commenced the term after a forgettable 2025-26 season, where they were relegated from the Championship with no points, incurred deductions totaling 18, and managed to win only two matches amid numerous squad challenges, financial difficulties, and administration issues.

Nonetheless, the conclusion of that season had reasons for optimism, as they achieved their first home victory on the final day, a moment highlighted by the introduction of new ownership and the confirmation that no points deductions would carry into League One.

Looking ahead to a fresh beginning in the third tier, they bolstered a depleted squad over the summer with several key additions. Under Henrik Pedersen, they have begun the season with back-to-back wins, first defeating Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup and subsequently winning against Leyton Orient in their league opener over the weekend.

The opening match featured a goal from Callum Slattery, followed by a response from Joseph Olowu, with Jamal Lowe ultimately securing all three points for the Owls from the penalty spot. Sheffield Wednesday is now seeking to achieve three consecutive wins and their second victory in the third tier during their first home game of the campaign.

The task will not be straightforward, however, as the visitors also arrive with a perfect start to their 2026-27 campaign in their quest for League One promotion this season.

Bradford City commenced the new season aiming to build on their impressive ascent under Graham Alexander, having secured promotion to England’s third tier in 2024-25, and subsequently reached the playoffs last season, where they finished fourth but were eliminated in the semi-finals by Bolton Wanderers.

Looking to capitalize on the momentum of another strong season, the Bantams started off in the EFL Cup first round, achieving a 2-0 victory over Rochdale with goals from Will Swan and Aden Baldwin.

They then faced Peterborough United at Mbanq Valley Parade for the league opener over the weekend, securing another 2-0 victory as Macaulay Gillesphey scored the first goal early in the second half, followed by Nick Powell doubling the advantage with 15 minutes remaining.

Now, following two wins and clean sheets to kick off their third full season under Alexander, Bradford City embarks on their first away trip of the season on Thursday, hoping to secure another three points while establishing themselves as early frontrunners in League One.

Team News

Henrik Pedersen is expected to maintain a similar starting XI for Sheffield Wednesday from Saturday’s victory against Leyton Orient, although midfielder Tyler Onyango is a doubt due to being substituted in the first half of that match. Di’Shon Bernard remains unavailable, and Billy Mitchell and Ricardo Santos are still working on returning to fitness for their debuts.

In the probable absence of Onyango, Jarvis Thornton may be introduced into the midfield alongside summer recruits Jordi Liongola and Barry Bannan, who has returned after a loan spell at Millwall during the latter part of last season.

Harry Gray and Callum Slattery were instrumental in supporting striker Jamal Lowe during the last match, and while Mason Burstow will aim to feature as the main striker, Lowe is likely to retain his position having found the net in each of the competitive games to open the season.

Bradford City is expected to field a lineup similar to that of their first league match, with striker Stephen Humphrys as the only probable absentee.

Nevertheless, they boast strong competition for attacking roles, with Kayden Jackson, Will Swan, and Jake Beesley starting, who were substituted by summer acquisition Adam Phillips, Bobby Pointon (who scored 10 league goals last season), and Nick Powell, who added the second goal from the bench.

On the defensive side, new addition Macaulay Gillesphey will continue in a back three alongside Aden Baldwin and Matthew Pennington after making an impact on his league debut, and Callum Connolly is set to pair with solid performer Antoni Sarcevic in midfield.

Sheffield Wednesday probable starting XI:

Lumley; Palmer, Otegbayo, Swinkels, M Lowe; Liongola, Bannan, Thornton; Slattery, Barry; J Lowe

Bradford City probable starting XI:

McCracken; Pennington, Baldwin, Gillesphey; Neufville, Sarcevic, Connolly, Touray; Pointon, Beesley, Swan

Sheffield Wednesday have certainly displayed promising aspects in their opening match victory, offering reasons for optimism, but they could be facing a more seasoned League One opponent this weekend compared to last and may be content with a draw to achieve four points from their first two league fixtures with a revamped squad.