Wilson aiming to spoil start to Owls' new era

AS Sheffield Wednesday look to the future under new owner Milan Mandaric, it is a former Owls manager who stands in the way of them moving into an automatic promotion place today.

It is almost 11 years since Danny Wilson was axed as manager at Hillsborough but the Swindon chief says: "Beating Sheffield Wednesday wouldn't give me any satisfaction because of that. Satisfaction is given to me by results at present.

"You always want to do well against a former club, but that's an individual thing and nothing that the boys have to do anything about or know about.

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"It would give me great pleasure to get three points full stop, but mainly for the reasons of the position it could put us in the league."

Wilson guided Swindon to the League One play-off final at Wembley in May, but they have been inconsistent this time despite victories over two of the 'bigger' sides in the division, Southampton and Huddersfield.

"There's nothing in the table," said Wilson, delighted that the game was given the go-ahead after a County Ground inspection yesterday morning. "Two wins would put us within touching distance of Sheffield Wednesday, which tells you everything.

"Sheffield Wednesday is a massive club but they are in our division so there is nothing we should be fearful of and if we can beat them on Saturday then it would give me enormous pleasure for more than one reason."

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Another former Owls player up against Alan Irvine's side today is Jon-Paul McGovern, who scored in the League One play-off final victory over Hartlepool in 2005 and who said: "They're such a massive club but it gives them no divine right because they've been taken over that they can win games and get through the league.

"They've got pedigree. The fact they've let Marcus Tudgay go to Nottingham Forest says it all about their strike force at the moment."

The Owls hope that Tudgay's departure will not backfire as they are expected to be without leading goalscorer Neil Mellor after the striker was carried off in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy semi-final defeat to Carlisle in midweek with an ankle injury.

Manager Irvine, whose side had won six games in succession before their JP trophy defeat, will have to choose between Jermaine Johnson or Paul Heffernan to partner Clinton Morrison.

Last six games: Swindon WDWDLD, Sheff Weds WWWWWL

Last time: Swindon 4 Sheff Weds 1; November 13, 2004; FA Cup.

Referee: G K Hegley (Hertfordshire).