- Sheffield Wednesday form: Sheffield Wednesday have won four of their last five matches and are in the middle of a three-game winning streak.
- Wolverhampton form: Wolverhampton are in decent form themselves, losing just one of their last five games.
- Home defensive record: Wednesday have conceded 1.33 goals per game at home in all competitions.
Owls can put pressure on Wolves at Hillsborough
Sheffield Wednesday will provide a tough test for Wolves in a full-scale soccer game at Hillsborough on Tuesday, as both sides bring solid runs of form to this EFL Cup contest. The Owls have beaten Preston North End 3-2, Bolton Wanderers 1-0 and Leyton Orient 2-1 in their last three games so momentum is building quickly at Wednesday's camp and Hillsborough has been a solid base for the hosts, who have won three, drawn two and lost just one of their six games at home across all competitions.
That shows they have enough to compete with the visitors here, who have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four away trips this season. Wolves' better away record gives them the edge in this spot, but Wednesday will make this a difficult fixture.
Midfield battle to set the tone
Barry Bannan has been the engine of Wednesday's new-look side, which is full of energy and has been much more attack-minded under Henrik Pedersen. His players are set up in a back four system, which is organised enough to press opponents and wide enough to get numbers behind the ball and then advance the ball quickly when it's won.
Wolves have been much more direct in transition under César Peixoto, who has put together a system built around pressing triggers and quick verticality in behind, so there is scope for an interesting midfield battle to dictate the flow of this game.
Back Wolves to edge a tight game
Odds and predictions
This looks a cup tie that could go either way, but the visitors are strong enough to edge it if Wednesday don't have the best of the possession and can be backed to do so with the odds available. Wednesday have beaten Preston North End 3-2, Bolton Wanderers 1-0 and Leyton Orient 2-1 so will certainly come into the contest with a positive mindset.
- Wolves are the 1.63 favorites with the bookmakers, but Wednesday can be found at 5.0 and the draw at 3.95 looks a bit short in a game that could swing either way.
- A Wolves win with both teams to score looks the sharpest angle if the game opens up a little because these are two different systems designed to get the game moving in different ways.
- Backing Over 2.5 goals at 1.8 and Both Teams to Score at 1.8 looks a viable alternative, but Wolves have scored just four goals in four away games across all competitions, which doesn't suggest they will be running wild at Sheffield Wednesday.
Scoring outlook
Fer Lopez has been their sharp edge , scoring three in his last five appearances, while Jamal Lowe has been the Owls' spark with two of their last 5 goals.
