Sheffield Wednesday will face Oldham Athletic away in the FA Cup first round. The draw, made on Monday night, sets up a League One versus League Two clash to be played between 6 and 9 November.
Russell Martin's side, who sit sixth in the League One standings with 18 points from nine games, will aim to build on their recent 5-0 league win over AFC Wimbledon. The tie at Boundary Park offers a route to the second round and a prize of £47,750 for the winner.
Recent history and context
Sheffield Wednesday lost 4-0 to Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in a pre-season friendly in July. Their last competitive visit there was more successful, a 4-2 victory in a League Cup first round clash back in 2012. The Owls' most recent FA Cup campaign ended with a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford in the third round last season. The club has won the FA Cup three times in its history, in 1896, 1907, and 1935.
Their current league form, which includes three wins and two draws from the last five matches, provides a confident backdrop for the cup challenge. The team's recent 5-0 victory against AFC Wimbledon featured goals from five different players: Michael Smith, Josh Windass, Lee Gregory, Callum Paterson, and Marvin Johnson. That emphatic result on Saturday 17 October, with goals from Barry Bannan, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Harry Gray, Callum Slattery, and a second for Keillor-Dunn, extended their unbeaten run to five matches. The team's form of three wins and two draws from the last five includes a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield on Saturday 10 October, where Jamal Lowe scored a late penalty. Lowe is the club's top scorer this season with five goals in nine appearances. Sheffield Wednesday have scored 20 goals and conceded only eight in the league this season, giving them a goal difference of plus twelve.
Broader first round picture
The first round features several notable ties. League One leaders Bradford City will host non-league Marine. Sheffield Wednesday are currently just two points behind those leaders. Leicester City, the 2021 winners, travel to Oxford City. Another all-League One fixture sees Peterborough United, managed by Robbie Savage, take on a Reading side that includes his son Charlie. Other ties include AFC Rushden & Diamonds facing Burton Albion and Plymouth Parkway reaching this stage for the first time in their history. The matches are scheduled for the weekend of 7 November.
Sheffield Wednesday are back in league action on Tuesday evening away at Notts County, who are 23rd in the table. The cup draw provides an early November focus as the Owls continue their push in League One, where they are just two points behind leaders Bradford. The club's next league fixture after the cup tie is a home game against Bristol Rovers on November 12.
First reported at Sports Mole
