Sheffield Wednesday have won as many games in a week as they did in the entirety of last season which has to give them a real lift going into a crunch Yorkshire derby on Thursday night against Bradford City.
Henrik Pedersen's men followed up a solid 1-0 win over Bolton in the EFL Cup with a comfortable 2-1 win at Leyton Orient at the weekend.
But now comes a massive test against one of their local rivals.
Bradford City, who in contrast to the Owls are on the up rather than the way down, have also won their opening pair of fixtures and are expected to represent a formidable test for relegated Wednesday in front of a crowd of over 30,000 at a rocking Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday v Bradford City Tips Summary
Best Bet - Draw @ 23/10
Alternative Bet - Both Teams to Receive 2+ Cards @ 6/5
Bet Builder - Jon McCracken Over 2.5 Saves, Callum Slattery to be Booked, Under 5 Goals @ 11/2
Sheffield Wednesday v Bradford City Prediction
Best Bet: Draw @ 23/10
There is a long overdue feelgood factor returned to Hillsborough, but this will be a massive test of that new-found confidence.
Wednesday are bringing in players once again under new owners as they seek to distance themselves from the wretched last 12 months, and at 2/1 to be promoted it's clear bookies and fans expect a good season from a solid squad.
But Bradford City, play-off semi-finalists last year, represent a stiff obstacle and one Wednesday might not overcome.
With a pair of 2-0 wins under their belt already - admittedly at Valley Parade where they were nigh-on invincible last season - the Bantams have kicked off the season nicely.
Their away form dipped last term but they were good enough to win at Blackburn and Stoke in the EFL Cup and at Stockport and Cardiff in League One. They are no mugs on their travels and Graham Alexander will have them ready for this showdown.
The draw is short at 23/10 which gives a clue and it's an outcome that is hard to ignore.
Alternative Bet: Both Teams to Receive 2+ Cards @ 6/5
A Yorkshire derby should bring out the fire in both these sides where cards are likely to be shown by referee Tom Parsons.
There have been four cards shown in each of the Owls' games so far and seven cards across both Bradford City games.
Referee Parsons has officiated two EFL Cup ties so far, flashing seven yellows in Crawley's 2-0 win at York and five more in Burnley's 1-1 draw with Notts County.
Sheffield Wednesday v Bradford City Bet Builder Tip
Jon McCracken Over 2.5 Saves
Callum Slattery to be Booked
Under 5 Goals
Pays 11/2
Bradford keeper Jon McCracken has had to make two saves in each of his side's 2-0 wins this term, at home to Rochdale and Peterborough.
You would expect, away from home and against a better side than either of those, he will be that bit busier, so have him in for over 2.5 saves as the first leg of the Bet Builder.
Owls' forward Callum Slattery has been a busy player over his side's first two matches with a goal, six tackles and eight fouls - but no yellow cards. Yet.
With four fouls in each game played Slattery may have dodged a bullet thus far but referee Tom Parsons looks like he won't stand any nonsense.
Finally, if the game is a draw - as suggested - don't expect anything higher than 2-2 and more likely it ends 1-1. Certainly Under 5 Goals looks a commonsense bet to round off the Bet Builder.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Wednesday are two out of two since relegation, beating 10-man Bolton 1-0 in the EFL Cup and then winning 2-1 at Leyton Orient on Saturday.
Bradford have also won both their matches and both by 2-0 scorelines, at home to Rochdale in the EFL Cup and Peterborough in League One.
The Owls have now won three games in a row - they last won four in a row in August 2024.
12 of Bradford's last 17 matches have produced either two or three goals.
Wednesday's two games so far have produced 11 and 12 corners, Bradford's 12 and 10.
These Yorkshire rivals last met in a league game on 12th February 2005, also a third-tier game, with Bradford winning 2-1 at Hillsborough.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
