After both kicking off their respective league campaigns over the weekend, Sheffield Wednesday and Stockport County will do battle in the first round of the EFL Cup at Hillsborough on Tuesday.
The hosts' began at home to Southampton on Friday in their return to the Championship, while the visitors kicked off their second consecutive League Two campaign by entertaining Gillingham on Saturday.
Match preview
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Sheffield Wednesday head into their second competitive match of the 2023-24 season under the new management of Xisco Munoz, following the departure of Darren Moore over the summer.
It was Moore who led the Owls to promotion back to the Championship last season at the second time of asking, and they secured a place in England's second tier in dramatic fashion, eventually finishing third in the table and overturning a four-goal deficit in their playoff semi-final tie with Peterborough United, before triumphing by a goal to nil over local rivals Barnsley in the final at Wembley, courtesy of Josh Windass's decisive goal in the 123rd minute.
After his exit was confirmed in mid-June, the South Yorkshire outfit appointed Munoz as their new boss to lead the side into the new term, and after their pre-season preparations concluded with a draw against Real Murcia and defeats to Burnley, Eldense and Doncaster Rovers, they would begin the Championship term with a tough test at home to newly-relegated Southampton on Friday.
The visitors would go ahead early, as Nathan Tella's curled effort found the top corner after a glance from Adam Armstrong, but the Owls withstood pressure and drew level through Lee Gregory in the 54th minute.
Che Adams eventually restored the Saints' lead three minutes from time, denying Munoz's side a share of the spoils, and the Owls will now look to put a first win of the season on the board to advance in the EFL Cup and build momentum ahead of their trip to Hull City in the Championship on Saturday.
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They meet a visiting side who are also seeking a first victory of the season after also making a losing start to their league campaign.
On their return to England's fourth tier last season after winning promotion from the National League, Stockport County enjoyed an impressive term, eventually finishing fourth under the management of Dave Challinor, one place and four points off automatic promotion, booking them a playoff semi-final tie with Salford City as a result.
The Hatters prevailed in that two-legged contest and travelled to Wembley to meet Carlisle in the final in their bid to make it back-to-back promotions, but after the game ended in a 1-1 draw with Omari Patrick drawing them level six minutes from time, Challinor's men fell at the final hurdle as they lost out in the penalty shootout in the capital.
Following that dramatic disappointment, Stockport set out to go one better this time around and complete a climb to League One, but after a mixed pre-season which culminated in defeats to Salford City and AFC Fylde, they were unable to start with three points at the weekend, losing 1-0 at home to fellow promotion-hopefuls Gillingham as Robbie McKenzie hit the only goal of the contest in the 86th minute.
Keen to bounce back from that opening-day setback and build a run of results in the coming weeks, the Hatters will be keen to take a major scalp in the EFL Cup first round on Tuesday and come out on top at Hillsborough.
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Team News
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Still new to the club, Xisco Munoz should rotate his Sheffield Wednesday squad heavily on Tuesday and afford chances to several players who featured on the bench on Friday, including new signings Pol Valentin, Anthony Musaba and Ashley Fletcher.
Fellow new arrivals Di'Shon Bernard and Bambo Diaby could both make first starts for the club at the heart of the back four, with the latter having served the final game of a four-match suspension picked up late last season, while goalkeeper Devis Vasquez arrived on loan from AC Milan on Saturday and should also make his Owls debut.
Key men like Barry Bannan, Will Vaulks and Josh Windass may be afforded the opportunity to start on the bench, with Fletcher and Musaba likely starting up front alongside either Mallik Wilks or Michael Smith, while Juan Delgado is also vying to start after making his debut in Friday's curtain-raiser following a summer switch from Pacos de Ferreira.
Stockport County should again give time to their summer signings on Tuesday, with Ibou Touray, Louie Barry and Nick Powell bound to feature from the outset at Hillsborough.
Aberdeen loanee Jayden Richardson could also come in from the start, while goalkeeper Jordan Smith has also arrived from Nottingham Forest to provide competition for Ben Hinchliffe and will likely be handed a debut.
Powell may move slightly further back to accommodate experienced forward Paddy Madden, who only featured off the bench on Saturday after hitting 35 goals over the previous two seasons for the Hatters.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Valentin, Diaby, Bernard, James; Delgado, Paterson, Palmer; Fletcher, Smith, Musaba
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Smith; Knoyle, Wright, Touray; Richardson, Powell, Camps, Rydel; Barry, Madden, Olaofe
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Stockport County
We expect both sides to rotate somewhat for Tuesday's cup game, but the Owls boast more quality and depth and should be able to get over the line and advance in the EFL Cup on home turf.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
