Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton LIVE commentary: Hillsborough ready for Championship opener – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
Sheffield Wednesday will be hosting Southampton at Hillsborough for the opening game of the 2023/24 Championship season on Friday night. The Owls have returned to the second tier after a thrilling League One play-off campaign, where they emerged victorious against Barnsley at Wembley.
Despite achieving promotion, Darren Moore was sacked, and new manager Xisco Munoz faces a tough start to his tenure in Yorkshire as they take on the relegated Saints. Southampton, who finished at the bottom of the Premier League last season, were expected to experience a mass exodus. However, their captain, James Ward-Prowse, remains at the club despite interest from West Ham. He is expected to lead his side in their first competitive game under new boss Russell Martin as they aim to make an immediate return to the top-flight.
The Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton clash is scheduled to take place on Friday, August 4, with kick-off at Hillsborough set for 8pm. talkSPORT will provide live and exclusive coverage of the game, presented by Adrian Durham. Commentary will be provided by Sam Matterface, former Chelsea defender Scott Minto, and ex-Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Alternatively, you can listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker, or on 1089 or 1053 AM.
In terms of team news, Sheffield Wednesday’s new manager Munoz could include some fresh faces in his first line-up, with the likes of Pol Valentin, Juan Delgado, Di’Shon Bernard, and Ashley Fletcher joining the club this summer. They could feature alongside key players Barry Bannan and Josh Windass, who played pivotal roles in the Owls’ successful League One play-off campaign.
As for Southampton, they are expected to field a strong line-up, having retained Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia throughout the transfer window so far. New signings Shea Charles and Ryan Manning are likely to start for the Saints, who recently sold Mohamed Salisu to Monaco.
Southampton boss Martin is eager for his players to move on from the disappointment of relegation as they prepare for the season opener. He emphasized the need for a winning mentality and a collective demand for success within the team.
In terms of match facts, Xisco Munoz, who previously led Watford to promotion from the Championship in the 2020-21 campaign, has an impressive record at home. He won 12 out of 13 Championship matches on home soil that season. On the other hand, Southampton have struggled in their opening league fixtures over the past nine campaigns, failing to secure a victory. Sheffield Wednesday had a strong home record last season, losing just one of their 23 home league games.
The upcoming game between Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton will be their first league meeting since the 2010-11 League One campaign, where Southampton secured a league double over the Owls.
In other news, talkSPORT has launched a new match center where you can stay up-to-date with the latest football fixtures, results, and standings. Check out the Premier League fixtures, Premier League table, all fixtures and results, and all league tables on the talkSPORT website.
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Sheffield Wednesday F.C. will be hosting Southampton F.C. at Hillsborough Stadium for the opening game of the Championship tomorrow evening, and fans across the globe will be tuning in to follow the action.
Kick off is scheduled for 7:45pm BST, and the match promises to be an exciting one for both sides, as they look to start their campaigns under new managers off with a win.
For Sheffield Wednesday supporters, the game will mark the end of a long wait for competitive football, with manager Tony Pulis taking the helm after a decade of managerial changes. Wednesday have also added a number of new faces to their squad and they will be hoping for a strong start to the season.
Meanwhile, Southampton F.C. are looking to build on a strong season last year, having just missed out on a play-off spot. New manager Ralph Hasenhüttl will be looking to guide the club back, into the Premier League, and will be hoping to get off to a good start at Sheffield Wednesday.
The match is expected to be a closely fought battle and will undoubtedly be full of excitement. For those wanting to follow the action, the game is being broadcast live from Hillsborough Stadium on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with the commentary team led by Jonathan Pearce and Ian Darke.
For those who cannot watch the game, regular updates can be found on @SkyFootball, while the Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton F.C. Twitter and Instagram accounts will be sharing highlights and exclusive video content throughout the evening.
Let the battle begin!