Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford: Prediction, H2H and probable lineups — January 10, 2026
On Saturday, January 10, in the FA Cup round of 32, Sheffield Wednesday will face Brentford. Read on for a detailed look at both teams and our match prediction.
Match preview
Sheffield Wednesday are in disastrous form. Under Danish manager Henrik Pedersen, the team has gone 19 games without a win, losing 12 of those fixtures. The "Owls" are anchored at the bottom of the Championship, severely hampered by an 18-point deduction. There's a 99% chance they'll be relegated and playing in League One next season.
This is Sheffield’s first FA Cup match of the season—and, in all likelihood, their last. Progressing will be a tall order, as the Owls are struggling even in their own league and now face a top-flight opponent. Last season, Sheffield Wednesday crashed out at the same stage against Coventry, with the result decided by a penalty shootout.
Brentford, on the other hand, come into this clash in excellent form. The Premier League side has won four out of its last five matches, drawing the other. In their most recent outing, the "Bees" confidently dispatched Sunderland 3-0. The team’s talisman is striker Igor Thiago, who has already netted 16 Premier League goals this season, setting a new record for Brazilian players in the competition's history. Head coach Keith Andrews may choose to rest Thiago, but Brentford have plenty of quality options, so it’s unlikely to be an issue.
For Brentford—just like Sheffield Wednesday—this will be their FA Cup debut this season. The Bees must be cautious, though: they have recent experience of being knocked out by lower-division teams. For instance, last year Brentford exited at this very stage to Plymouth, who were in the Championship relegation zone at the time.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Sheffield Wednesday have failed to score in three consecutive matches.
- Five of Sheffield Wednesday’s last six games have seen over two goals scored.
- Brentford have opened the scoring in four of their last five outings.
- In the last ten head-to-head encounters, Brentford have the clear edge: six wins, three victories for Sheffield Wednesday, and one draw.
- The last time these teams met in the English League Cup in 2024, Brentford only advanced after a penalty shootout.
Probable lineups
- Sheffield Wednesday: Charles - Iorfa, Otegbayo, McGhee - Fusire, Thornton, Bannan, Amass - Cadamarteri, McNeill, Lowe
- Brentford: Valdimarsson - Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry - Yarmolyuk, Janelt, Jensen - Lewis-Potter, Schade, Nelson
Prediction
I expect Brentford to win comfortably, but the odds for an outright victory are too low to be attractive. A more logical bet looks to be "both teams to score – no": Sheffield Wednesday are struggling massively in attack, and it’s highly unlikely they’ll find the net in this match.
