Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to the Madejski Stadium to take on Reading in the Championship this weekend, their first game since being taken over by a Thai consortium.
Following a run of three straight league victories without conceding a goal, the Owls are now without a win in their last two having been beaten by Bolton Wanderers and drawn 0-0 with Birmingham City.
They are still flying higher than expected in the Championship table, however, sitting ninth in the standings with only nine points separating them from the top six.
A playoff charge is unlikely, but they have established themselves as one of the trickiest teams to play in the league this season. They have conceded just 23 goals in their 27 outings, a tally that only Middlesbrough can better.
It is at the other end where they have struggled, however. Despite Wednesday's relatively lofty league position, no team in the Championship has scored fewer goals than them, with their tally of 21 being the same number as rock-bottom Blackpool.
Curiously, the bulk of their 38 points have come on the road this season, with only league leaders Bournemouth having amassed more than Wednesday's 23 away points. Their two defeats on their travels, meanwhile, is the lowest tally in the division.
It has been a notable week at the club as the Thai takeover was completed, and Stuart Gray will be happy to focus fully on matters on the field now.
Loan signings Lewis Baker and Will Keane both made their full debuts for the club on Tuesday and have been tipped for stardom by Gray, but the latter could make way for Stevie May this weekend.
Reading may have been expecting their position to be reversed with Wednesday's at this point of the season, but the Royals go into the game seven points and nine places behind the Owls.
They are showing signs of improvement under Steve Clarke, however, losing just one of their last seven matches in all competitions, including safely progressing to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Like Wednesday, they played out a goalless draw in their last outing as they were unable to make the most of a numerical advantage against the 10 men of Millwall.
They remain seven points clear of the relegation zone as a result and, with only three points separating them from the top half, they will be starting to look up the table rather than down it now.
The Royals have only won one of their last five home outings but, after this weekend, will not have to face another side currently in the top 11 of the table at the Madejski until April.
Jamie Mackie is pushing for a recall to the side and could replace Nick Blackman, but Chris Gunter is unlikely to be fit enough to start the match.
Reading:
Form in Championship: LDWDLD
Form in all competitions: WWDLWD
Possible starting lineup: Federici; Kelly, Pearce, Hector, Obita; Williams, Norwood, Chalobah; Mackie, Pogrebnyak, Robson-Kanu
Sheff Weds:
Form in Championship: LWWWLD
Form in all competitions: WWLWLD
Possible starting lineup: Westwood; Palmer, Loovens, Lees, Helan; Maghoma, Baker, Semedo, Maguire; Nuhiu, May
Sports Mole says: 1-2
No Data Analysis info
