PREVIEW: Luton Town v Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday remain firmly entrenched in serious danger of dropping back into League One this season for the first time in a decade.

It looked like the Owls were absolute certainties to go down at the beginning of the campaign having been hit with a 12-point deduction for breaking spending rules.

They were given a shot in the arm during November though, with the punishment halved, massively boosting the Hillsborough club's chances of staying up.

But Wednesday's effort to do so have been hit by yet another turbulent campaign behind the scenes, with Garry Monk sacked in November, replaced by survival specialist Tony Pulis.

However the former Stoke boss was let go after just over a month, picking up one win from 10 games, as a statement from chairman Dejphon Chansiri said: “The performances and results have not been of the level expected since Tony Pulis was appointed.

"There are also other issues which have had a bearing on this decision."

That saw long-serving first team coach Neil Thompson named as caretaker manager in December, making him the eighth to sit in the hot-seat in just three years, as the Owls just haven't had any consistency since Carlos Carvahal left in December 2017, following over two years at the helm.

A horrendous run of form between October and December meant both Monk and Pulis paid the price, with the Owls claiming just one league win in 14 games, including two runs of four straight defeats.

A 2-0 loss against Nottingham Forest on December 15 left Wednesday staring at the top, seven points from safety, even with the six back to their tally by now.

Beating Coventry 1-0 and then earning a 1-1 draw at Blackburn wasn't enough to prevent Pulis from losing his job, and with Thompson taking charge, there appeared to be a ray of light.

He masterminded two wins in a row, as a 2-0 reverse at Coventry was followed by back-to-back wins again, while they made it three from four when beating bottom side Wycombe in early February to move out of the bottom three on goal difference.

Just as things started to look promising though, a 1-0 defeat to Stoke was followed by a crucial 1-0 home loss to relegation rivals Birmingham last weekend, as Wednesday went down 3-0 at Brentford in midweek to make it three straight defeats, all without a goal too.

Away from home has been a real struggle for the Owls this term, with just three wins and 11 losses, as they are the second lowest scorers in the division, bar Luton, with just nine goals from their 16 matches, while 26 have entered their net.

It all means that they go into the contest at Kenilworth Road sitting second from bottom, three points adrift of safey, but speaking after the midweek loss to Brentford, Thompson remained confident.

He said: “We more than matched them for large periods in terms of having the ball, but it doesn’t matter how you play when you’re in our situation, we need to win games.

“We have to be more ruthless at both ends of the pitch. We haven’t scored enough goals, we know that.

“There’s a third of the season left so we have to look positively.

"We’re disappointed but we have to find it from within to lift ourselves and go on a run.”

The transfer window saw Thompson look for reinforcements, re-signing defender Sam Hutchinson on a free transfer from Cyprus side FC Pafos.

Attacker Andre Green came in from Aston Villa too, while Conor Grant signed from Rochdale for an undisclosed fee and Kieran Lee joined from Bolton Wanderers.

Team news: The Hatters could spring a surprise with boss Nathan Jones revealing one of Matty Pearson or Tom Lockyer might be in contention after missing the last two games.

Wednesday will be without experienced goalkeeper Keiren Westwood who has a rib fracture, while Massimo Luongo is out with a knee injury, as is Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (ankle).

Liam Shaw misses out as he serves the second match a two-match ban following his red card on Saturday and Andre Green is doubtful with an inflamed Achilles, but Jack Marriott is back in training.

Top scorers: Hatters - James Collins (10). Owls – Callum Paterson (7).

Man in the middle: Michael Salisbury - has taken 16 games so far this season, showing must 39 bookings and one red, as he officiated Luton's 3-0 home defeat to Brentford back in October.

Last term he had 29 matches, with 79 yellows and 10 reds, including the League Two play-off final between Exeter and Northampton.

Refereed Hatters three times in the 2018-19 campaign, twice against Oxford, sending off the hosts Shandon Baptiste in the first game that Town won 2-1.

Also had the 3-1 home win that saw Luton clinch the League One title and earlier 1-0 victory at Bradford.

Took Town twice the year before, a 2-0 home win over Barnet and 1-0 win at Grimsby where he dismissed Jordan Cook on 33 minutes.

Also had Luton once before that, a 0-0 draw with Notts County, awarding the hosts a last minute penalty that Christian Walton saved.

Assistant referees are Mark Pottage and Mark Jones, with the fourth official Gavin Ward.

In charge: Neil Thompson – was a defender in his playing career, starting out with Nottingham Forest, before spells at Hull City, Scarborough, Ipswich and Barnsley.

Became player-manager at York City in 1999 and had the same position at Scarborough and Boston United, where he hung his boots up.

Worked for Leeds United reserves while he moved to Sheffield Wednesday in February 2011, when he was brought in to work with then-manager Gary Megson.

Has coached the academy and U23s side, becoming first-team coach in July 2019 and was named in caretaker manager charge back in December following the departure of Tony Pulis.

View from the opposition: Neil Thompson: “It’s a real challenge for everybody. It’s real and we have to deal with it.

"Everyone, players and coaches have to search inside themselves and use every attribute they have to get a result.

"If you look at the last 12 league games, we’ve won six and drawn one, but we’ve lost the last three so we need a reaction.

"It’s important we react in a positive way to get back on rack. We have to turn it around.”

Friendly faces: Luton first team coach Paul Hart joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1985 signing from Nottingham Forest.

He made over 50 appearances, until leaving the following year for Birmingham City.

Midfielder Izzy Brown was borrowed by Wednesday from Chelsea in the summer, the ninth club of his career already.

Had spent last term at Kenilworth Road, scoring once in 24 games as injury hampered his time with Luton.

He has made 18 appearances for the Owls this season, although only three from the start and has played just twice in the league since the turn of the year

Striker Jack Marriott headed to Hillsborough on loan on transfer deadline day back in October.

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 has scored 17 times in 86 games for the Rams, before joining the Owls on loan, where he is yet to score in his nine appearances so far.

Hasn't played since January, with his one goal this season coming against Luton when at the Rams.

Played for both: Julian Watts - defender started his career at Rotherham United, moving to Sheffield Wednesday in 1992.

Spent four years at the Owls but only made 18 league appearances, as he had a loan at Shrewsbury, before heading to Leicester City.

Stints with Crewe and Huddersfield, as he went to Bristol City in 1998 and then Lincoln, Blackpool, heading to Luton on loan in 1999.

Quickly made the move permanent and played 87 times for the Hatters, scoring eight goals, before moving to Australian club Northern Spirit in 2001.

Stayed there until 2004, as he returned to England, appointed assistant manager of Maltby Main and then manager of Hallam in January 2011.

Named boss at Nottinghamshire side Rainworth Miners Welfare in 2016 and is now a financial advisor.

One to watch: Callum Paterson - 26-year-old Scottish international midfielder began his career with Hearts, making over 150 appearances during his five years at Tynecastle, scoring 38 goals too.

That led to a move down south, joining Cardiff City, as he helped the Bluebirds reach the Premier League, making 106 appearances in total and scoring 21 goals.

Headed to Hillsborough in the summer for an undisclosed fee and opened his account in October during the 2-1 home defeat to Brentford.

Started to find his scoring boots once more at the turn of the year, scoring in three consecutive games and then notched in the 2-1 win at Bournemouth and 4-1 defeat to Millwall to make it five in his last 12 outings and seven for his debut season.

We've got form: Town have a fairly mixed record against the Owls during their contests at Kenilworth Road since games began with a 1-0 Division One loss back April 1900.

It took Luton four games and 46 years to triumph for the first time, as Mel Daniel scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 Division Two victory.

That started a seven match unbeaten run, including a thrilling 5-3 success in 1951, eventually ended nine years later.

Since then Luton have just about had the better of things and are unbeaten on home soil in the league since August 1989, a seven game sequence now.

In total, the Hatters ave won 13, drawn 10 and lost seven of their 30 meetings, scoring 47 goals and conceding 37.

Last time out: Luton enjoyed a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in their clash at Kenilworth Road last season.

After James Collins missed a penalty inside the opening 60 seconds, he made amends on 23 minutes, turning the ball in from close range after fine work by Harry Cornick for the only goal.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Glen Rea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Izzy Brown (Andrew Shinnie 89), Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 68), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Callum McManaman. George Moncur, Kazenga LuaLua.

Attendance: 10,001.

Referee: Gavin Ward.