Sheffield Wednesday defender Tom Lees wary of Huddersfield Town and Barnsley FC

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY defender Tom Lees has warned his Owls team-mates that forthcoming derby opponents Huddersfield Town and Barnsley are two of the Championship’s vastly improved sides this season - and has paid tribute to the duo.
Tom Lees.Tom Lees.
Tom Lees.

In their next two games, the lowly Owls visit a venue that has traditionally been very accommodating in recent times in the shape of the John Smith’s Stadium and then welcome the Reds at Hillsborough on Saturday.

Wednesday kick off tonight with a trip to Huddersfield where their remarkable recent record has seen them go eight matches unbeaten and not even concede a goal in the process.

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Following that, Tony Pulis’s side host Barnsley, who have not won at S6 on their last six visits since a goal from Jamal Campbell-Ryce gave them victory in February 2009.

All told, Barnsley have not beaten Wednesday in their last 12 meetings, home and away.

But Lees insists that Wednesday's recent record against Barnsley and the Terriers counts for nothing.

The defender said: “The derby games are going to be really tough. I have watched Barnsley a couple of times this season and they are high energy and really good without the ball. They play at a really good intensity and I have been really impressed with them.

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“To be fair, it is the same with Huddersfield with a new manager as well.

“They have had some really good results and totally changed the way that they play as well.

People might look at those games as games that we go into as favourites and thinking it is a formality.

“But this season, both of them have definitely improved.

“For us at the moment, I think every game is huge because we are down at the bottom of the table and wanting to get out of that bottom three as soon as possible.

“That is all we are aiming to do.”

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