View From T'other Side- Sheffield Wednesday

1. The opening day of the season is always an exciting time for supporters but how much more exciting is it for you that's it's a South Yorkshire derby, if it makes it more exciting at all?

The opening day is always special, looks like it's going to be a warm one as well. But then again it's in the rules that it has to be a warm day. It does make it more interesting that it is a South Yorkshire derby, it's a good thing as it means there's no place for anyone to hide and boy do we need to avoid anything like what we did last season against you lot. Our two worst performances of last season without a doubt, the players are up for it and want the six points back so it should be very interesting.

2. How has pre-season gone for the Owls? Has it filled you with confidence for the new season?

Pre season's gone ok, nothing spectacular but I never expect it. The thing is you just want to get through it with everyone fully fit and the new lads to gel into the squad more than anything. Obviously winning is a good thing as you lot have done but it's not the be all and end all at that stage. Today is what counts.

3. Nothing will compare to beating the Blades for a Wednesday fan I'm sure, but after The Reds did their first double over the Owls in 76 years last season and won at Hillsborough after 11 straight defeats, do Owls fans want to win this one more than in recent seasons?

I always want us to win this one, I'm originally from Sheffield but have lived a large portion of my life in Hoyland so naturally I have a lot of friends who gave me plenty of stick last season. To be fair though I've had plenty of chance to give them stick over the years so I suppose it was a bit of payback last year.

4. First games of the season can be somewhat of a step into the unknown but what can we expect to see differently from Wednesday to last season's meetings?

I expect us to play our game this time round, I think Brian Laws tried to be cute and change the way we play last year in both games, you lot play some decent stuff and we did prior to the games with you lot. So obviously your gaffer will have noted that, so we changed how we played.. To your benefit! We lumped the ball up front to players who were never going to beat Darren Moore in the air and it deflated us.

I think you will see a different us this time, we have the experience in our own back four in the shape of Darren Purse now so the way we let Campbell Ryce waltz through at our place won't happen in the same way.

5. Any team news?

Tommy Miller has missed most of pre season through injury but he came through a behind closed doors game against Bradford this week and scored so we expect him to play. Akpo Sodje will be missing for us, he was injured last weekend against Blackburn. So expect Tudgay and Clarke or Jeffers up front.

6. What do you think of Barnsley's Championship chances this season and who worries you most in the Reds line-up for tomorrow?

It's a strange one to be honest, you play some cracking stuff at times and can take most teams on the day but you seem to be more Jeckyll and Hyde than us! I don't think it will go to the wire for you lot again this season I expect you to finish a little higher than you did last season.

As for a danger man, well everyone knows your main danger man is Campbell Ryce, Hume is a decent player but it remains to be seen if he can be anything like the player he was. I like Da Silva as well, good battling player who does the sensible things with the ball.

7. Score Prediction?

Well I can't go any other way than a win for us, it's a derby after all! But I do think you'll score so 2-1 to us.

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